Cong double trouble: Soren not on board, SP MPs

SOREN'S SUSPENSE: The Congress and the BJP have offered him leadership of Jharkhand.

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Keywords: JMM, BJP

New Delhi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren has five MPs in Lok Sabha and thus the power to decide the Government’s fate on July 22 when it takes a floor test in Parliament.

The Congress’ core group on Friday decided that the Union Cabinet won’t be expanded before July 22, meaning that Soren could be offered the Chief Ministership of Jharkhand. The Congress’ floor managers refused to reveal what offer they had made to Soren but their statements fawned him.

“I believe Shibu Soren deserves being a minister. He is a member of the UPA,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

“We should realise the ground realities. Soren is part of the UPA and has been acquitted in some cases,” said Congress spokesperson Veerappa Moily

Soren kept the Congress guessing with the NDA also tempting him with a similar offer of Jharkhand Chief Ministership.

The Congress’ other worry is that the Samajwadi party also is looking a little disjointed. Only nineteen of the 39 Samajwadi MPs turned up for Friday’s parliamentary party meeting. Not too much can be read into this, but if it means that if SP is unable to deliver at least 34 or 35 MPs on July 22 the Congress could be in for a rude shock

Unsure of its numbers, the UPA's strategy now seems to be to try and ensure abstentions from those in the BJP who might be tempted to stay away during the floor test.