Ranchi, Feb. 14: Chief minister Hemant Soren is learnt to have taken a tough stand against his rural development minister Chandra Shekhar Dubey, who has allegedly called the former the “most corrupt and inefficient chief minister ever”.

Hemant, who left for Delhi in a chartered plane this evening to work out a seat-sharing formula for the coming elections, is apparently determined to have some plain talks with the Congress high command on the issue.

And if JMM insiders are to be believed, he may even go to the extent of shaking Dubey if the Congress leadership failed to take any appropriate action against the “foot-in-the-mouth” minister.

“A mere agreement between the two parties’ top leaders cannot fetch votes in elections. Good understanding among common workers of alliance partners is more important. If the Congress and JMM have decided to put up a united fight in Jharkhand, their workers should help each other whole-heartedly,” said chief minister’s political adviser Himanshu Shekhar Choudhar.

“He may do something on his own on his return from Delhi, if the Congress fails to make its minister behave,” he added.

During his visit to Bokaro on Wednesday, February 12, Dubey reportedly said Hemant Soren was one of the most corrupt and inefficient chief minister, apart from levelling several allegations against him. He also said that he would go to Delhi and offer resignation.

Though Dubey postponed his Delhi trip at the eleventh hour today, he is ready to put in his papers if the Congress high command wanted so. “I will go to Delhi whenever the party high command summons me. My resignation letter is ready. I will hand it over to the chief minister, the very moment I receive a word from Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi or other senior leaders. I have never compromised with my principles, and will never succumb to pressure tactics,” said a defiant Dubey while speaking to The Telegraph.

State Congress chief Sukhdeo Bhagat, who accompanied the chief minister to Delhi today, and CLP leader Rajendra Prasad Singh, meanwhile, refrained from making any comment on the controversial issue.

But, Rajya Sabha member Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu advised Hemant to talk to Dubey first, while Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay urged the duo to restrain patience.