Days after ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) claimed that there was a power pact in Jharkhand, senior leader of ruling BJP Yashwant Sinha flatly denied it on Sunday.
“Shibu Soren is independent on what he wants to do, but there was no deal whatsoever between the BJP and the JMM,” Mr. Sinha told reporters here in reply to Mr. Soren’s contention that the agreement would end in January.
Mr. Soren had on November 7 told the media in Bokaro that there was a power sharing agreement of 28 months between the JMM and the BJP in Jharkhand and option of going with the UPA is open for the JMM if the BJP does not adhere to the formula.
He had also said the formula had been agreed to in the presence of leaders of the ruling coalition partners of BJP, JMM and AJSU before Chief Minister Arjun Munda took over the reins on September 11, 2010.
The BJP’s State unit president, Dineshanand Goswami, has already denied any such agreement.
Congress reaction
Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress Committee president and Rajya Sabha member Pradeep Kumar Balmachu said in Ranchi: “While the JMM says there was a deal, the BJP denies it. That means one of them must have committed breach of trust and the people should know it.”
“We acknowledge and respect Guruji’s (as Soren is known) contribution in the State’s creation. He is a secular leader, but that image is being spoiled by tying up with the BJP,” he added.
