Cong, JVM-P remain mum on oppn alliance

Ranchi: Congress and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) are yet to decide on the opposition alliance that was mooted by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha last week.
The national party held a meeting on Monday to discuss the issue, but no decision was taken at the end. Congress state chief Sukhdeo Bhagat held a meeting with Barkagaon and Barhi MLAs in Hazaribag and later a meeting was held in the state capital where also the issue was discussed.
Congress does not have enough numbers in the assembly to follow a separate path.A candidate needs 28 votes to win, Congress has only seven. "The decision would be announced in a couple of days," Lal Kishore Shahdeo said.
A Congress insider said the JMM candidate cannot win without Congress support.
Meanwhile, JVM-P has also not been announced. "An informal meeting of party functionaries has taken place, but no final decision has been taken," JVM-P leader Santosh Singh said.
A combination of Congress and JVM-P support will mark a sure success of JMM. Congress has seven seats and JVM-P two together they can take the JMM's number 19 to 28, the magic number.
A JVM-P leader said the party's stand has been against any outsider using the platform of the state to go to Rajya Sabha. "We are in favor of a local candidate," Singh said.
So far there are only two candidates for the two vacant seats. "If the number of candidates is only two they would be elected unopposed because there are only two vacant seats," a JVM-P leader said, adding that the final decision will be taken in a couple of days.