Despite the JMM-BJP agreement over power-sharing, there is profound suspense in Jharkhand over JMM supremo and chief minister Shibu Soren keeping his promise of resigning on May 25 to let the BJP lead the five-party coalition government for the next 28 months. Both parties have entered into a complex set of agreements and JMM
sources said Mr Soren’s promised resignation would happen only if the BJP manages to make “credible and smooth” arrangements for the JMM’s demands to be fulfilled before May 25.
The BJP, aware of these concerns, has already started working out the changes its leaders promised to the JMM during the crucial Tuesday meeting.
Mr Soren, known for his penchant for clinging to power in the face of great adversities and embarrassments, has reportedly made it clear to former BJP chief minister and party national general secretary Arjun Munda that the saffron party has to first ensure that its MLAs agree to the promised changes in the state cabinet’s configuration before the top post goes to the BJP.
As per the agreement, which is described as a “tentative but highly practical arrangement,” the BJP would get the post of the chief minister, two ministers as against the current four, and the Speaker’s post, which it currently holds.
The JMM, as per its demands that were agreed to by the BJP, would get the post of one deputy chief minister, four ministers as is now, and the post of deputy Assembly Speaker, which has to be created. AJSU, which previously had three ministers, would now have two.
But the most crucial part of the agreement, according to sources, is the JMM’s demand that cabinet berths currently held by the four BJP ministers would go to the JMM ministers when the BJP heads the government. While the BJP already finds it difficult to shorten the number of its ministers from four to two, sources said there is extreme reluctance within the party about handing over all its previously held Cabinet portfolios to the JMM.
“After the agreement was stitched, there is hardly an obstacle on the way of the BJP forming the government with the JMM’s support,” said BJP Jharkhand spokesman Sanjay Seth to this newspaper, declining to elaborate.