Thu, Dec 24 02:47 AM
Jharkhand was headed for a hung Assembly on Wednesday with the Congress-JVM alliance leading with 24 seats and the JMM and RJD emerging as kingmakers since government formation will require any combination to touch the 41-seat mark in a House of 81.The BJP-JD(U) combine, which won 36 seats in the 2005 elections, was emerging as the second largest grouping with 20 seats. In New Delhi, BJP parliamentary board spokesperson Ananth Kumar said his party did not rule out the possibility of forming a government in Jharkhand and had authorised president Nitin Gadkari to take a final call.
The Shibu Soren-led JMM, which had participated in the first UPA government, was leading in 17 seats while the RJD was ahead at seven places.
Indications of a tough bargain came from the JMM which said it would back anyone who would support Guruji, the name given to Soren by his supporters.
The Congress was leading in 13 seats and ally JVM in 11. Both have indicated they are not averse to taking support from any party to form a 'secular' government.
RJD chief Lalu Yadav said in Patna that he would work for formation of a 'secular' government. The leaders of Congress, JVM, RJD and JMM, he said, would sit together to explore the possibility of forming a government.
The 'Others', including five belonging to the All Jharkhand Students Union were ahead in 13 seats.
JVM chief Babulal Marandi said his party fought alongside Congress and would stand by it. "All well-wishers should support our alliance," he said.
Soren was being wooed by both the Congress and BJP-led coalitions. "We have the option to shake hands with the JMM and other like-minded parties," said BJP MP and former chief minister Arjun Munda. State Congress leader Keshav Rao had an identical view on this.
Among the first results announced on Wednesday was the victory of Geeta Koda, wife of Madhu Koda, from Jagannathpur. She defeated her nearest rival Sonaram Birua of the BJP by over 20,000 votes.
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