Click to play videoRanchi: The man of the match in Jharkhand Assembly elections is a politician who's survived court convictions, personal tragedies but is once again ready to play the kingmaker or the king himself.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) President Shibu Soren has reaped a good harvest in the Assembly elections.
It had been predicted that the JMM would not even reach double figures but surprising everyone, Soren came up trumps and at the end of the day with 18 MLAs, holds the key to the formation of the next Government in Ranchi.
"JMM has got 18 and we have not reached 41. He has the right to talk," All India Congress Committee Secretary In-Charge for Jharkhand K Keshav Rao says.
Dhishum guru or Guruji, as Shibu Soren is fondly called by his admirers among tribals, is proving to be a politician with nine lives of the proverbial cat.
He has been convicted and acquitted in murder cases. There are several other pending court cases against him and he suffered a personal tragedy when his son passed away recently.
Yet he has managed to bounce back.
"JMM has struggled for this state and JMM created this state. The leader of JMM Shibu Soren who knows Jharkhand better than anyone else," says JMM leader Supriyo Bhattacharya.
For Soren the choice is not simple. Going with the Bharatiya Janata Party would give him the post of chief minister, but does not guarantee him security.
Going with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance takes care of legal problems and also allows him some political space at the Centre.
But in such a scenario, Soren will have to sacrifice the thorny crown of Jharkhand to one of old rivals like Babu Lal Marandi.
Soren has often regretted that he has not been the first chief minister of Jharkhand.
In the past five years, he had to let go of the chief minister's position twice because of the controversy surrounding his appointment.
Will he be third time lucky in what may be his last chance?
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