Four times MLA from Pakur and senior Congressman Alamgir Alam was elected as Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader here on Tuesday. The decision to this affect was taken at the Congress legislative party meeting chaired by State Congress in-charge RPN Singh and others at Congress party office. The name of Alam was proposed by State Congress president Rameshwar Oraon and seconded by Bermo MLA Rajendra Singh.

With the election of Alamgir Alam as Congress Legislative Party leader, he is poised to become to become second man in Hemant Soren’s team. The four times MLAs from Pakur this time won the election with highest margin. Alam secured around 53 per cent of votes defeated his nearest BJP candidate Veni Prasad Gupta by the huge margin of nearly 65,000 votes. Alam, who had vast legislative experience, was also Speaker of Jharkhand Assembly.

Meanwhile, talks of government formation of Hemant Cabinet have began, as Grand Alliance constituents have started discussions on names of probables, who will be included in Hemant Soren’s cabinet. State Congress in-charge RPN Singh said, “Congress central leadership will take the final decision on the names of MLAs who will be included in cabinet. Till now no final decision has been taken about probable names of MLAs who will be made ministers.”

Sources said from JMM’s side there will be six ministers including the post of Chief Minister. From Congress side there will be five ministers including the post of Speaker to be given to Congress. The lone RJD MLA from Chatra, Satyanand Bhokta is also doing rounds as Cabinet minister.

From JMM quota, names of Stephen Marandi MLA from Maheshpur, Nalin Soren MLA from Shikaripara, Joba Manjhi MLA from Manoharpur, Sabita Devi MLA from Ichagarh are probable contender. Similarly, from Congress quota, names of Rajendra Singh MLA from Bermo, Banna Gupta MLA from Jamshedpur West, Deepika Pandey Singh MLA from Mahagama, Irfan Ansari MLA from Jamtara and Kolebira MLA Naman Bixal Kongari are doing the rounds.

The lone RJD MLA from Chatra Satyanand Bhokta is also considered to become as Minister. Meanwhile, the post of Speaker will be given to Congress and State Congress president Rameshwar Oraon is likely to be made as Speaker.

Sources said that in government formation, both the parties have decided to give adequate representation to all sections of society and region.  A senior Congress leader requesting anonymity said, “There will be representation from ST/SCs, OBC, minority and upper caste.” “As Mahagathbandhan’s maximum seats came from Kolhan and Santhal Pargana, these two regions will have maximum representation in the new Cabinet.”