UPA will form the government in Jharkhand: JMM

"UPA is in majority in the state and all the coalition partners including the Congress, JMM and RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) were unanimous on the issue (of forming government)," senior JMM leader Sudhir Mahto told mediapersons in Jamshedpur.

Jharkhand assembly is in suspended animation since JMM chief Shibu Soren stepped down from the chief minister's post following his defeat in the Tamar assembly by-election early this year.

The President's rule will expire on July 19. Mahto said he had a "positive" meeting with Congress leader Ahmed Patel on the issue of government formation in Jharkhand on Wednesday.

He said that the initiative to form a government will begin soon after the Rajya Sabha election, which was slated for June 20 in Jharkhand.

When asked about the chief ministerial candidate, Mahto said there was "no hitch" on the issue among the UPA constituents but the party will not let any independent candidate hold the top post.

UPA did not want to repeat the same 'mistake' it had committed before the parliamentary elections.

"We (UPA) had suffered setback in the general election because we were disintegrated and this had helped BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) to bag eight of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand," Mahto said.

The former deputy chief minister promised that the UPA will implement pro-people schemes including providing rice and wheat at a cheaper price to the poor.

"We will also hold panchayat elections at least in the scheduled areas (112 blocks) of the state," he added.