NEW DELHI:The UPA leadership has stepped up its efforts to resolve the Jharkhand stand-off between JMM chief Shibu Soren and the chief minister Madhu Koda. The UPA leadership has asked the chief minister to come over to Delhi for consultations. He is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi and other senior UPA leaders like Lalu Yadav on Friday.
The Koda government has been directed by the governor to prove its majority on the floor of the house on August 25 and UPA leadership is straining to resolve the issue. Senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, Ahmad Patel A K Antony along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad were closeted with JMM chief Shibu Soren on Thursday. Later in the evening, they met again this time at the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
According to senior UPA sources, Sonia Gandhi is reported to have intervened to bring around RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav who had reservations about supporting Soren. Sonia Gandhi is reported to have impressed upon the RJD chief the necessity to ensure that all the UPA allies remain united in the run up to the next Lok Sabha elections. "Soren is a part of the UPA and we need to have him as an ally in the next elections in Jharkhand," said a senior Congress leader.
The JMM chief also did his bid to mollify Lalu Yadav. Earlier in the day, he called on the RJD chief in a bid to get him to support him. Emerging from the meeting Soren appeared confident of securing the RJDs support. The RJD has 7 MLAs in the Jharkhand assembly and its support is critical for Soren.
Meanwhile Sorens bid was also bolstered by the decision of the two suspended BJP MLAs Vishnu Bhaiyya and Manohar Tekriwal to support him. The two MLAs were suspended by the BJP for siding with former chief minister Babulal Marandi.
