Jharkhand: Shibu Soren keeps his cards closed

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo Shibu Soren on Tuesday remained non-committal on whether he will stake claim for chief ministership in Jharkhand, an issue which, he said, will be decided by the United Progressive Alliance leadership.

"The issue of (chief ministership) will be decided by all UPA partners. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is our leader and it will be on her directive," Soren told reporters in New Delhi.

Asked if he was in the race for the post, the Union minister parried a direct reply saying many were in the line and though everybody nurtured a desire, only one could become the chief minister.

Soren claimed that the four

Independent ministers, who had put in their papers, supported the UPA, which comprises the Rashtriya Janata Dal, JMM, Congress and the Forward Bloc.

The formation of an alternative government would follow only after the Governor's action, he said. Asked to comment on the claim of Chief Minister Arjun Munda that his government was not in minority and that he was ready to prove it on the floor of the House, Soren said: "Floor test takes places on the floor only. What is there to comment beforehand?"

JMM has 17 legislators, forming the largest chunk in the 39-member UPA, followed by Congress - nine, RJD - seven and others six. The Jharkhand assembly has 82 members