Ranchi: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) today (July 25, 2004) said that it was solidly with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre, but would think of joining the ministry only after taking the 'BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-sponsored' battle to its logical end.

''We are not thinking of any ministerial berth...We are thinking of taking the battle to the BJP camp for its logical conclusion,'' party leader and Rajya Sabha member Stephen Marandi told a press conference in Ranchi.

Asked when the 'missing' JMM chief Sibu Soren would 'surface', Marandi said, ''He is waiting for the High Court verdict. We expect a verdict tomorrow and as soon as it comes Soren would be before you.''

To a query as to why he has 'disappeared' for nearly a week, Marandi alleged, ''Guruji (Soren) wanted to scuttle the NDA's (National Democratic Alliance) plan for an unrest in the State. The Arjun Munda Government had sent a police team to New Delhi to arrest our leader which would have instantly sparked violence and bloodshed back home.''