Want BJP to be responsible, strong Opposition in Jharkhand: Congress

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said that the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance wants BJP to play the role of a strong and responsible Opposition in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand: With the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alliance winning big in the recently concluded Jharkhand assembly elections ousting the Bharatiya Janta Party government, state Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said that they want the latter to play the role of a strong and responsible Opposition.

"Unlike the BJP we want a strong and responsible Opposition. We want BJP to correct us if we happen to go wrong somewhere," Thakur told ETV Bharat.

When asked if Congress is expecting to get at least six seats in the Hemant Soren-led Cabinet, the expansion of which is likely to take place soon, Thakur said, "We don't think about all these things, when we keep the general public in mind, things such as ministership appear very small. We want to work for the people."

On rumours of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha MLAs being in touch with the alliance, Congress leader said, "We are always in touch with all MLAs, because the parties which fought the election against the ruling party must be together."

"Babulal Marandi, for that matter, had said that he is with Hemant Soren's government," added Thakur.

When asked if they are confident about the "Mahagathbandhan" serving a full-term in office, Thakur said, "The people of Jharkhand have voted for the grand alliance and it is now our responsibility to provide them with a stable government that would last for a full five-year term while fulfilling our election promises."

Thakur added, "We have got much more than what we had expected."

The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance bagged 47 seats in the 81-member state Assembly; JMM won 30 seats, Congress 16 and the RJD one.

The alliance defeated the BJP which won 25 seats. Jharkhand has become the fifth state to slip out of the BJP's hand in the past one year.