Late Shibu Soren Padma Bhushan, triggers alliance speculation ahead polls

Ranchi | Desk: The Central governments' decision to posthumously confer Late Shibu Soren, founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) with Padma Bhushan has heated up politics from Jharkhand to Delhi. 

Shibu Soren has devoted his maximum duration of life in the struggle of Jal, Jungle, Zameen and rights of Adivasis. 

Post the announcement of the award declaration, speculation is rife in the political circles that BJP is trying lure Hemant Soren and might take him away from the INDIA alliance to NDA. 

The Congress party seems worried about this development as it fears that if Hemant Soren switches sides, the coalition government in Jharkhand would collapse and the congress party's existence in the state could be jeopardize. 

Congress leaders argue that they stood by Hemant Soren during his difficult times, while the BJP was trying to send him to the jail. and also tried breaking their party. 

Meanwhile, on the other side, JMM gave a mixed reaction to this honor. While Chief Minister of Jharkhand called his father 'Bharat Ratna'. 

JMM Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji expressed disappointment at the Padma Bhushan, calling it injustice to Shibu Soren's stature. 

The party further said, they were demanding Bharat Ratna for the 'Dishom Guru' and the government should reconsider its decision. 

According to the political experts this announcement before the elections can change the old equations, as was seen earlier in the case of Jayant Chaudhary after Bharat Ratna was given to Chaudhary Charan Singh. 

At present, Congress is worried that if JMM leans towards NDA, its own MLAs may also break away.