Soren trial of strength in a week

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The frayed marriage of convenience between the JMM and the BJP in Jharkhand fell apart on Monday after a distraught BJP formally withdrew support to the Shibu Soren-led government, bringing an end to a protracted political stalemate and reducing the state’s five-month-old coalition government to a minority.

Hours after a delegation of BJP leaders gave the party’s letter withdrawing support to Jharkhand governor M.O.H. Farook in Ranchi, Mr Soren was summoned to Raj Bhavan and given a week’s time — till May 31 — to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly. Mr Soren met the governor accompanied by around 10 other JMM leaders on Monday evening and assured him that, if given a chance, he would be able to prove he still commanded the Assembly’s support.
With the JMM having only 18 legislators, well short of the majority mark of 42 in the 81-member House, it is almost certain that the JMM would seek the support of the Congress and its JVM(P) ally, led by former chief minister Babulal Marandi, in order to survive. The Congress and the JVM(P) together have 25 legislators.
The BJP, frustrated by Mr Soren’s frequent flip-flops and increasing proximity to the Congress, took this extreme step 27 days after first deciding to pull out of the coalition government. JMM sources have said, however, that there was still a possibility that the party could hold another round of negotiations with the BJP.