Zee Media Bureau
Ranchi: Decks were cleared on Friday to lift President`s Rule from the state of Jharkhand after the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) formally announced their alliance.
JMM leader Hemant Soren, son of party chief Shibu Soren, told reporters that the Congress today assured them of support and the two parties will now form a coalition government in the state.
Sources said Hemant will most likely be the next chief minister.
Hemant said the alliance would not just confine to government formation but will also be applicable to Lok Sabha elections next year which the two parties will fight together.
Congress has agreed to have a JMM chief minister in the state. In lieu, the regional party has consented to give a lion`s share of 10 Lok Sabha seats to Congress out of a total of 14 in the state.
Hemant had yesterday held a long meeting with AICC general secretary BK Hariprasad, who is the Congress in-charge of Jharkhand affairs.
The meeting had reportedly discussed modalities of the new coalition government which will work on a common minimum programme (CMP).
The CMP has also been discussed and final touches are being given.
The tribal-dominated state is under President`s Rule since January 18 after the collapse of the Arjun Munda-led BJP government following the withdrawal of support by JMM on January 8. President`s Rule in the state is set to expire on July 18.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad has assured both JMM and Congress of his party`s support to a new government.
JMM and Congress, which have 18 and 13 MLAs respectively, need the support of 11 more legislators to form a government in the 81-member state Assembly. RJD has 5 MLAs in the House.
CPI-ML (L), Marxist Coordination Party, Jharkhand Party (Ekka), Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch and Jai Bharat Samta Party have one member each besides an Independent.
Political uncertainties have dogged Jharkhand ever since it was carved out of Bihar in 2000 as the state has remained under President`s Rule thrice -- 2009, 2010 and 2013.
(With PTI inputs)
