Race for CM's post starts in Jharkhand

RANCHI: With the long-drawn election process in Jharkhand coming to an end next week, the race for chief ministership has begun.

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha is in touch with the top party brass to garner support for his candidature in case NDA got majority. State BJP president Raghubar Das is also claimant for the top slot.

“Both Mr Sinha and Mr Das are impressing upon the party leadership that there was a need for a non-tribal chief minister since the state has witnessed four tribal chief ministers, who could not deliver much,” said a party source.

Former chief minister Arjun Munda appears to be a serious contender for the CM post from the NDA camp. In the event of absence of consensus, deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha, Karia Munda, can also be considered for the post.

Union minister for food processing Subodh Kant Sahay will be a strong contender for the post in case the Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) alliance comes to power.

State Congress president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu is also lobbying hard with the central leadership on the pretext of being a tribal. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) leader and former chief minister Babulal Marandi is also nursing an ambition for the post but the Congress is unlikely to concede on the issue.

If Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) comes to power its supremo Shibu Soren will be the obvious choice for the chief minister’s post as he is still the undisputed leader of the party.