With Jharkhand headed for a fractured verdict in assembly polls, Congress today appeared to be sensing an opportunity to install a party-led coalition there for the first time in the state and sought to win new friends including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
With numbers being the name of the power game, Congress leaders described RJD as a "UPA constituent" and JMM chief Shibu Soren a "family member", in spite of the fact that they were not part of the Congress-led pre-poll alliance in the state.
As the Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha alliance appears to be emerging as the largest pre-poll group in the 81-member assembly, the refrain in All India Congress Committee (AICC) is for ensuring a secular and stable government in the tribal state.
Party spokesman Manish Tewari, however, said in reply to questions that this does not mean that Congress has given up its claim to chief ministership which is being sought by Shibu Soren-led JMM virtually as a pre-condition for support.
"Congress is the single largest party in the single largest group," said Tewari adding, "in certain circumstances, stepping up for public service is also a sacrifice," when asked whether the party is ready to make sacrifices on its claim for chief ministership.
Replying to questions, Tewari said RJD is a "constituent" of UPA, and AICC secretary-in-charge for Jharkhand K Keshav Rao dismissed suggestions that Soren could support a BJP in government formation in Jharkhand, saying, "I know his (Soren's) views. He is like a family member".
