With the BJP withdrawing support to the JMM-led government in Jharkhand, Congress on Wednesday dropped enough hints that it is not averse to forming an alternative government in the tribal state.
"There is nobody untouchable in politics," AICC in-charge for Jharkhand K Keshava Rao told reporters outside Parliament while replying to questions.
Asked whether the party sticks to its stand that it will not form any alliance government in the state with Shibu Soren as the head, the Congress leader said, "In politics there is no last word."
Asked whether it means that the Congress was not averse to forming a government in the state, the AICC leader shot back, "Never averse to it. After all we contested the election there to form a government."
At the same time, he stated that the party would not make any such move unless it is sure that any such government would be stable.
"Stability does not come by numbers. It comes by leader," he said when asked where are the numbers to form any such alternative government.
On Soren voting for UPA during the cut motion, he said, "It came yesterday very naturally, very legitimately that he voted for us".
The Congress leader said that Soren is a "part and parcel" of UPA. "He (Soren) had a pre-poll alliance with us..he is a part and parcel of UPA. Two MPs from JMM support our government at the Centre from outside," Rao said.
Congress had not formed an alliance government in Jharkhand as it did not agree to Soren becoming the Chief Minister. "It does not seem there is any stability even now the way they (BJP and JMM)are running the government...we are keeping a watch on the situation" Rao said.
Asked about reports of Congress cosying up to Soren to form the next government in Jharkhand, BJP leader Prakash Javdekar said, "Congress is a party which is ever ready to go with any party any time."
Speculation is rife that Soren may have struck a deal with the Congress-led government. Sources said he may bargain for a berth in the Union Cabinet and make his son Hemant Soren the deputy chief minister in Jharkhand.
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik Chief Babulal Marandi may then become the Chief Minister in a coalition government of the Congress, JMM and JVN. In the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly, Congress has 14 MLAs, JMM has 18, BJP has 18 and JVM(P) has 11 MLAs.
Asked about JMM's support to the government on the cut motions, Hemant Soren claimed that it happened by "mistake" and made it clear there was no move to form a government in Jharkhand with Congress backing.
"It's all rumour and has no base," Hemant said when asked about speculation that JMM may go with Congress and JVM to form an alternative government in the state.
Stability in governance has eluded the state since it was formed in 2000 and it has seen at least seven governments in the last ten years including one led by independent Madhu Koda.
The state also witnessed a year long spell of President's rule in the past as no government could be formed due to lack of consensus. PTI
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