But earlier, Soren had indicated his willingness to step down when he humbly said, "I have lost the elections... Since I have been defeated in people's court, I am certainly a defeated man. Moreover, I have lost as the Chief Minister, hence I will have to think on the issue of continuing as the CM… What happens after losing?... I cannot explain everything here."
The defeated Chief Minister arrived in New Delhi late on Thursday with the intention to seek sympathy from the UPA for "being a victim of a political conspiracy'' as the allies did not fully work for his victory. Having being done in by "political deceit", he had three options in mind.
Sources said that, according to the first option, Soren would remain the Chief Minister and re-contest elections since he still has time till February 27 to win or bow out of the Assembly. Alternatively, he would quit in favour of his wife, who would serve the position until he wins an Assembly poll. The third option, sources added, was that the Assembly be dissolved and fresh elections called.
Soren gave an indication of his mind after he emerged from a meeting with Congress leader and Jharkhand affairs in-charge Ajay Maken. "I have been fighting elections anyway," he said after it was confirmed that Vishnu Bhaiya, one of JMM's MLAs, had resigned from Jamtara Assembly constituency in favour of Soren.
Jamtara has been a JMM bastion for a long time and it was just a case of miscalculation by Soren, who fought from Tamar in Chhotanagpur region of the State.
Clearly, Guruji is not inclined to hand over the chief ministership to Madhu Koda, who had relinquished the post in Soren's favour after much persuasion.
Soren would meet the Congress leaders as well RJD chief Lalu Prasad to advocate his cause. But if sources within the RJD are to be believed, there is support for Koda within the party. "Koda was unnecessarily removed. He should be rehabilitated," a senior RJD leader and Minister in the Union Cabinet said. Lalu was unavailable for comment.
The RJD sources said that President's rule should be imposed only when all options were exhausted for the formation of a Government in the State.
Koda, who came to the national Capital on Thursday night itself, said he was ready to become the Chief Minister if the UPA leaders so wanted. "It will depend on senior UPA leaders. I am ready to fulfill with honesty any responsibility given to me," he said.
The Congress, however, indicated on Friday that it would want Soren to quit. "It (defeat) is a setback for the (UPA) Government. The verdict of the people should be honoured," party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here. Asked about the stand of Congress and what it intended to do in the State, Ahmed said, "A decision would be taken in a day or two."
On Soren, he said it was up to the JMM leaders to decide the next step. "The Congress is not the only party supporting him... How can we announce anything on our own?" the spokesman said.
But the party is also not keen on supporting Koda since it has a poor view of his administrative skills. "We don't want to support Koda," a Congress leader said.
From all indications, the Congress would favour Soren's last option - that of Assembly dissolution.