India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday expressed hope about ending the impasse over the formation of a new government in Jharkhand. Leaders of the BJP and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) stated this after certain serious parleys at New Delhi . Members of the regional Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and others, who held a meeting here, a day after their meeting with BJP leadership said they are hopeful of a solution soon. "The situation that cropped up with coalition partners has now normalised. It is going in right direction and I think the problem will be sorted out," said AJSU President Sudesh Mahto. "There was a healthy discussion yesterday and a consensus was achieved and we will inform you when further talks take place. We are trying to take a decision in the interest of the state," said Shibu Soren's son Hemant Soren. The BJP had earlier on Friday said it would withhold its decision till it consults its alliance partners in the state. Shibu Soren had reportedly written to BJP President Nitin Gadkari apologizing to him and other senior leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Sushma Swaraj for voting in favour of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government during the cut motion on April 28. In his letter, Soren conceded that his support to the UPA Government during the cut motion moved by the Opposition was a mistake. He pleaded with Swaraj for justice for the people of Jharkhand. The JMM leader wrote that he had sacrificed his life for the people of Jharkhand and was now indisposed. Hemant Soren had also expressed his regret to the BJP for his father's error, asserting that the Chief Minister was ready to resign and urged the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to take a fresh initiative to form a government with a new leader. Hemant said the state wasn't ready to face another poll. "The JMM is ready to make a sacrifice for Guruji's (Soren's) mistake," he said. The BJP has till now declined Hemant Soren's offer. The JMM-led Government in Jharkhand was reduced to a minority on Wednesday after the BJP withdrew its support. After the BJP's pullout, the ruling coalition was reduced to having 28 seats from the original 46 it had in a House of 81. Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for a third time on December 30, 2009 . He had formed the government with a five-party coalition. Soren had secured the support of 44 MLAs in the 81-member House after the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave a fractured verdict. The JMM had 18 seats, BJP had 18 seats, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) had two seats, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) had five seats and Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) had one seat in the assembly. The Congress has 14 seats in the assembly.

BJP allies assure breaking of logjam over Govt formation in Jharkhand