'BJP to take final decision over new Jharkhand Govt. tomorrow'

Chennai, May 2 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that his party would take a final decision on formation of new government in Jharkhand with the support of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) over the next 24 hours.

"The party had decided to withdraw support to Shibu Soren; subsequently JMM leader wrote a letter to the party president (Nitin Gadkari) and to Advani ji saying a mistake has happened and they want to extend support to BJP government to prevent the Congress party from coming to power. The party is discussing the issue. There is no confusion whatsoever; we are very clear in our mind. A decision will be taken by tomorrow," said M Venkaiah Naidu.

It may be recalled that the BJP had withdrawn support to Shibu Soren's JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand on April 28 after he voted for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government during a cut motion brought up by the Opposition in Lok Sabha on April 27.

JMM president and Jharkhand state chief Shibu Soren, and his son, Hemant Soren, had subsequently written letters to BJP leaders, expressing their preference at remaining aligned with the BJP.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by BJP expressed hopes of ending the impasse over formation of a new government in Jharkhand after the JMM offered to support a BJP-led government.

BJP leadership had recently held talks with its Jharkhand allies-the regional Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and the Janata Dal (United) and others.

The JMM-BJP coalition government in Jharkhand was formed about four months ago. (ANI)