The Congress is reportedly demanding the posts of deputy prime ministers and four cabinet ministers; Senior party leaders reject claims

Ranchi: Even as JMM leader Hemant Soren is set to be sworn in as Jharkhand’s chief minister on November 28, the Congress party has reportedly demanded the post of deputy chief minister and four cabinet ministers. However, senior Congress leaders have denied that the party has made any demands for the deputy chief minister’s post.

Statement by Jharkhand Congress President Keshav Mahto Kamlesh

Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh told FPJ that the last cabinet also had four Congress ministers, adding that the ministerial quota was decided based on the number of MLAs the party had in the assembly. He said that this time after the CPI (ML) joined the INDIA bloc, a new situation has arisen and everything will be decided at the alliance meeting. Contrary to speculation that the Congress was pushing for the deputy chief minister’s post, Mahto categorically denied that his party had made any such demands on the JMM leadership.

Congress General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir on the hype surrounding the post of Deputy Prime Minister

When asked by reporters to comment on the brouhaha over the post of deputy chief minister, Congress general secretary and party chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir said, “Our immediate priority is to elect the leader of the alliance. Once the Leader of the House is elected, the empowered delegation will engage with coalition leaders to discuss further issues, including ministerial positions.”

Sources said the Congress can hope to win four ministerial seats as it won 16 seats in the Assembly elections. As per the formula, one ministerial seat can be given to a party for every four MLAs. The RJD, which won four of the six seats, is also reportedly seeking two ministerial seats this time. On the other hand, CPI(ML)’s Kumar Parvez told FPJ that his party will not join the government as it is part of the CPI(ML)’s all-India policy.

The CPI(ML) did not join the previous grand alliance government in Bihar even though it had 12 MLAs. In the assembly elections, the INDIAN bloc of JMM, Congress, RJD and CPI ML won 56 seats and NDA BJP, AJSU, JDU and LJP (RV) won 24 seats. One seat was won by the Jharkhand Krantikari Loktantrik Morcha (JKLM), which is not a member of any alliance.