NEW DELHI: In a last ditch effort to persuade the UPA leaders here to help him gather the magic number to form his government in Jharkhand, JMM chief Shibu Soren accompanied by all 17 MLAs of the party is reaching here on Wednesday evening.
Highly placed sources in the party claimed that JMM has managed to secure support of all independents barring Chief Minister Madhu Koda and Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi.
"Besides party MLAs, some independents, too, might accompany Soren who will reach the national capital today evening," a senior party leader said.
Sources claim that the independent ministers apart from Marandi and Koda decided to throw their weight behind Soren in a meeting last night in Ranchi.
JMM General Secretary Hem Lal Murmu said that the party has already solicited the support of independents.
The party is now banking on "active support" from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for persuading others including the RJD chief Lalu Prasad to fully back Soren.
There is a realisation among senior JMM leaders that Prasad is not quite keen on backing Soren.
Regarding RJD's stand over the matter, Murmu however claimed that Prasad had before and after the trust vote assured JMM of RJD's backing on Soren's claim to Chief Ministership.
Murmu said JMM leaders had two meetings with Prasad in which the matter was discussed.
Interestingly, Prasad two days back denied that the UPA made any promise to make Soren the CM of Jharkhand.
JMM sources said Soren planned to meet Gandhi over the matter.
"It is Congress, which has to convince Prasad to back Soren's claim," said a senior JMM leader.
All UPA MPs from Jharkhand have already apprised their senior leaders that they will find the going tough in the coming Lok Sabha election minus Soren's support in the state.
In a veiled warning, he said the JMM might be compelled to chart out a different path in the Lok Sabha election if Soren's demand for Chief Ministership is not fulfilled.
Soren had declared his demand for Jharkhand Chief Ministership only after meeting all UPA MPs here over a fortnight back.
Another General Secretary of JMM, Dilip Chatterjee, claimed that Koda will resign in a day or two rather than face defeat on the floor of the House, as support for Soren increased.
"We have got the numbers and will form the government," Chatterjee said.
The JMM is also banking on defections from the opposition camp.
The JMM leader made it clear that Soren is eyeing for the slot to boost party prospects in the coming Lok Sabha and other elections.
"We are taking charge of the state keeping in mind the upcoming elections," he added.
