Soren banks on Lalu for CM post

BY PRIYANKA RAI

New Delhi

Aug. 8: RJD chief Lalu Yadav has sent a team to look at the possibility of making JMM chief Shibu Soren Jharkhand chief minister.

Mr Soren is banking on the fact that state chief minister and independent MLA Madhu Koda, being Mr Lalu Yadav’s protégé, would "obey his mentor and vacate the chief minister’s seat in Mr Soren’s favour", a JMM functionary said.

Also, the RJD, with seven legislators in its kitty, is one of the major players in the Jharkhand political stage. JMM leaders are of the opinion that Mr Lalu Yadav could "make or mar" Mr Soren’s prospects.

However, Mr Yadav despatched a team to speak to the supporting parties and persuade them to accept Mr Soren as the chief minister a couple of days back. The feedback being received from the team is that none of the outfits, including their legislators, wants Mr Soren to replace Mr Koda.

Mr Soren’s "authoritarian" approach and "indulgence in nepotism" are coming in the way. A large section of the RJD and Congress in the state is said to be against a change of guard.

Some of the Independents, most of who are ministers, are also not game for a change of leadership. They are very comfortable working with Mr Koda as he is an Independent and does their work.

Earlier, JMM leaders held a series of meetings with senior Congress leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, over the issue. The Congress has reportedly indicated that the party has no objection to Mr Soren’s desire to lead the state.