India Block got a huge victory in Jharkhand but there is competition among JMM’s constituents to become ministers. More than a dozen Congress MLAs were camping in Delhi till yesterday. Therefore, the high command is not able to decide who should be given the responsibility of ministerial post and who should not. Same is the situation with RJD also. RJD, which had won one seat in the last elections, has won four seats this time, and all four MLAs are in the race to become ministers. In such a situation, it is not going to be easy for RJD to decide.
If sources are to be believed, it has not been decided whether CPI (ML) will formally join the government or not because CPI (ML) also wants to make both the winning MLAs ministers. In such a situation, Hemant Soren has given a clear message by taking oath alone that this time the Jharkhand government has been formed because of Hemant Soren. Therefore, the government will run as Hemant wants. Hemant government is not going to come under pressure.
Competition between Congress and RJD to become a minister
One of the four Congress ministers, Banna Gupta, has been defeated. Banna Gupta has lost to Saryu Rai in Jamshedpur West. In the previous government, three ministers had won from the Congress quota, but this time many MLAs who won from the Congress quota have come together from Delhi to Ranchi to become ministers. Congress sent Tariq Anwar to Jharkhand as an observer. But, the pair of in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir and Tariq Anwar have not yet achieved success in electing four leaders from the Congress quota in Jharkhand.
Same is the situation with RJD, where out of the four winning MLAs, at least two are making every move to become ministers. In such a situation, two ministers should be made from the RJD quota, but Hemant Soren has given a clear message to the top leadership of RJD and Congress that four ministers will be made from the Congress quota and one from the RJD quota. Obviously Congress and RJD are busy managing their internal disputes. At the same time, two winning MLAs of CPI(ML) are also in the race to become ministers. In such a situation, whether Hemant Soren will include him in the cabinet or whether he will support him from outside will be decided tomorrow.
Now Congress is demanding the post of Speaker?
Hemant Soren’s government will run under the leadership of Hemant, Hemant Soren has given a clear message by taking oath today. Soren’s stature seems to be much bigger than the leaders of India Block in Jharkhand. Therefore, looking at the result, it seems certain that the remaining constituent parties will be forced to accept Hemant Soren’s words. Soren has given a clear message to Congress and RJD that they should elect ministers from their quota, but they are not ready to give place to more than four ministers from Congress and one from RJD in the cabinet.
According to sources, after Hemant Soren’s clear messaging, Congress is now demanding the post of three ministers and one speaker. Earlier Congress was wanting the post of Deputy Chief Minister. After the election results of Jharkhand, veteran Congress leader of Jharkhand Subodh Kant Sahay had demanded the post of Deputy Chief Minister for the Congress. But, after Hemant’s clear refusal, Congress has now started demanding the post of Speaker.
According to information received from JMM sources, JMM is not ready to give even the post of Speaker to Congress. Obviously, now Congress will have to be satisfied with four ministries and will be forced to completely accept the leadership of Hemant Soren in Jharkhand. Even though Congress has won 16 MLAs in this government, JMM alone has 34 MLAs and 7 more MLAs are needed to run the government, which can be easily fulfilled. At the same time, Congress MLAs know that Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren have a major contribution in Congress winning 16 seats. Therefore, like the previous government, this time Congress is not in a position to put pressure on Hemant Soren.
Hemant in favor of strengthening the organization
Hemant Soren has got great success in Santhal Pargana and Kolhan. Out of total 28 seats, Hemant Soren and his constituents have managed to win 27 seats. Obviously, after the strong support received from the tribals, Hemant Soren is in favor of showing more dominance of the tribals in the government. Therefore, some new faces can be given a chance from JMM quota. Hemant Soren has decided to give the responsibility of the organization to his wife Kalpana Soren.
The way Hemant Soren’s wife has emerged as a big leader in Jharkhand in the last few months, this has given great strength to Hemant Soren. Hemant has also got the support of a large population of women. Therefore, Hemant is trying to strengthen JMM’s hold in Jharkhand by taking many decisions in favor of women. JMM is now trying to form the next government on its own. Therefore, by gaining strength as an organization, JMM is trying to spread its foothold in Jharkhand.
Obviously, after the strong success in Jharkhand, Hemant is now full of confidence and is thinking ahead about strengthening the party. In such a situation, Hemant has accepted that after the decision received from the public, he has to complete the work to strengthen his party in this period and make every effort to put JMM on its feet. Therefore, the party is thinking of expanding its footprint in Chhattisgarh and Odisha also.