Ranchi:
After almost a year of President's Rule, the people of Jharkhand were hoping for stability. But these elections have disappointed them.
The verdict is hung again, and Shibu Soren plays kingmaker... again.
The Congress may be celebrating its improved performance, but the state is headed for a hung Assembly for the second consecutive term. Over the next few days political parties are likely to apply a host of permutations and combinations for government formation. (
Map: Track seat -by-seat leads and results)
The ground reality is that no alliance is even close to the magic figure of 41 in the 81-seat Assembly. The results till now:
- UPA 23
- NDA 20
- JMM 18
- RJD 6
- Others 14
So, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Shibu Soren could well end up playing kingmaker, and both NDA and the UPA are wooing him. But the former Union Coal Minister is "keeping his options open".
"We will seek support from Soren. I have no chief ministerial ambitions and will go by whatever the high command says," said Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahai.
Right now though JMM wants to push its luck. On a reverse note, the NDA says it is going to opt out of government formation.
"We should sit in the Opposition and not try and form the government," NDA leader Yashwant Sinha said.
Meanwhile, scam accused former chief minister Madhu Koda's wife Gita won big from Jagannathpur.
"This is a verdict for the innocence of my husband. The people have voted for him," said Gita Koda, wife of ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda and a candidate from Jagannathpur.
Analysts say the Congress' raid on Koda just before the elections hurt tribal sentiments, fracturing the mandate further.
Results are out, but behind the scenes the political merry-go-round has just begun.