Congress appears to be in no hurry to put together a new government in Jharkhand after the fall of Arjun Munda-led BJP ministry and could prefer a brief spell of President's rule in the state.
Sibu Soren-led JMM, which withdrew support from Munda-led BJP government, is learnt to have approached some leaders in Congress to explore formation of a new government in the state but the latter is learnt to be in favour of being cautious.
Congress' caution stems from the fact that it had burnt its fingers by supporting independent Madhu Koda-led government in the past as it had to face public criticism for the irregularities that happened in Koda administration, party sources said.
Pressure is also mounting on Congress high command from state party leaders with at least eight MLAs arriving in the national capital to nudge the senior leaders to agree to a new political option.
‘JMM is approaching Congress. If they want to talk, why can't we. They are our allies at the Centre. They had voted with us twice in Parliament. The state unit of Congress is not in favour of President Rule or the dissolution of Assembly.
We have apprised the AICC in-charge of Jharkhand of our views. Now a decision has to be taken by the central leadership. We will accept whatever they decide,’ CLP leader of the state Rajinder Prasad Singh told PTI.
However, Congress spokesperson P C Chacko said ‘the state unit of Congress has not taken any decision. No political decision has been taken either by the state unit or by the central leaders on the issue’.
Congress is likely to use a brief spell of President's Rule to prod JMM to come to some ‘reasonable agreement’ with it.
Though Chacko refused to go into specifics of the options before Congress saying they are ‘premature’ at this time, he dismissed Munda's recommendation for the dissolution of the House saying the recommendation of a ‘minority government’ is not binding on Governor as per the precedence in past.
Jharkhand state chief Pradip Balmuchu had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday and is learnt to have told her that party MLAs are in the favour of formation of a new government in the state.
Gandhi is learnt to have expressed her reservations about propping up a Chief Minister from any other party with the support of Congress.
Congress is also understood to be not very keen for a prolonged spell of President Rule in the state as a majority of party leaders from the state feel that it creates a certain kind of anti-incumbency for the party.
The understanding in the party is that the best bait for them is to allow President Rule for a while and a if a Congress Chief Minister is acceptable, then move towards forming a government or go for fresh elections.
‘It's a very tempting situation. Two years (for the assembly tenure) are still left,’ said another leader when asked to comment on the political situation in Jharkhand.
AICC in-charge for the state Shakeel Ahmed said the ball is in the Govenor's court and the party will take a view only after a decision by him.
He at the same time said that Munda's recommending the dissolution of the Assembly does not hold water as ‘a government, which is not in a majority, is not entitled to recommend dissolution.
Sibu Soren-led JMM, which withdrew support from Munda-led BJP government, is learnt to have approached some leaders in Congress to explore formation of a new government in the state but the latter is learnt to be in favour of being cautious.
Congress' caution stems from the fact that it had burnt its fingers by supporting independent Madhu Koda-led government in the past as it had to face public criticism for the irregularities that happened in Koda administration, party sources said.
Pressure is also mounting on Congress high command from state party leaders with at least eight MLAs arriving in the national capital to nudge the senior leaders to agree to a new political option.
‘JMM is approaching Congress. If they want to talk, why can't we. They are our allies at the Centre. They had voted with us twice in Parliament. The state unit of Congress is not in favour of President Rule or the dissolution of Assembly.
We have apprised the AICC in-charge of Jharkhand of our views. Now a decision has to be taken by the central leadership. We will accept whatever they decide,’ CLP leader of the state Rajinder Prasad Singh told PTI.
However, Congress spokesperson P C Chacko said ‘the state unit of Congress has not taken any decision. No political decision has been taken either by the state unit or by the central leaders on the issue’.
Congress is likely to use a brief spell of President's Rule to prod JMM to come to some ‘reasonable agreement’ with it.
Though Chacko refused to go into specifics of the options before Congress saying they are ‘premature’ at this time, he dismissed Munda's recommendation for the dissolution of the House saying the recommendation of a ‘minority government’ is not binding on Governor as per the precedence in past.
Jharkhand state chief Pradip Balmuchu had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday and is learnt to have told her that party MLAs are in the favour of formation of a new government in the state.
Gandhi is learnt to have expressed her reservations about propping up a Chief Minister from any other party with the support of Congress.
Congress is also understood to be not very keen for a prolonged spell of President Rule in the state as a majority of party leaders from the state feel that it creates a certain kind of anti-incumbency for the party.
The understanding in the party is that the best bait for them is to allow President Rule for a while and a if a Congress Chief Minister is acceptable, then move towards forming a government or go for fresh elections.
‘It's a very tempting situation. Two years (for the assembly tenure) are still left,’ said another leader when asked to comment on the political situation in Jharkhand.
AICC in-charge for the state Shakeel Ahmed said the ball is in the Govenor's court and the party will take a view only after a decision by him.
He at the same time said that Munda's recommending the dissolution of the Assembly does not hold water as ‘a government, which is not in a majority, is not entitled to recommend dissolution.