Key stakeholders of Jharkhand politics — from BJP leader and incumbent CM Raghubar Das to UPA’s chief ministerial face Hemant Soren — are waiting for Momentous Monday to decide their political fortunes.

Forty-one happens to be the magic number to form a government in the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly (81 elected, one nominated).

CM Raghubar Das, whose political career depends not merely upon his personal victory from Jamshedpur East, but also on how the BJP — that had set a target of paisat paar (beyond 65 seats) — as a whole performs, spent Sunday in closed-door meetings at his official residence.Key stakeholders of Jharkhand politics — from BJP leader and incumbent CM Raghubar Das to UPA’s chief ministerial face Hemant Soren — are waiting for Momentous Monday to decide their political fortunes.

Forty-one happens to be the magic number to form a government in the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly (81 elected, one nominated).

CM Raghubar Das, whose political career depends not merely upon his personal victory from Jamshedpur East, but also on how the BJP — that had set a target of paisat paar (beyond 65 seats) — as a whole performs, spent Sunday in closed-door meetings at his official residence.

In the morning, Bhanu Pratap Shahi (Bhavnathpur) and Prakash Ram (Latehar) who contested the elections as BJP nominees, came to meet Das at his official residence.

“He spoke to some party leaders over phone and took their feedback. He left for Jamshedpur around 4pm and will remain there on Monday for counting. He is very confident about his victory as well as that of the BJP and said the party is all set to form the next government,” said a close aide.

Hemant Soren to leave for Dumka on Monday Telegraph Picture

The residence of JMM working president and leader of the Opposition Hemant Soren, barely 100 metres from the CM’s official residence on Kanke Road. Though even this address was quiet on Sunday, a media manager of the JMM said Hemant was “relaxed and cool”. “It means Hemantji is confident that the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance will be pushed to majority. He is contesting from two constituencies, Dumka and Barhait. We have been given to understand that he will leave for Dumka on Monday. He held a closed-door meetings with some of the senior leaders of the party who are members of his core team,” the media manager said.

Babulal Marandi confident that he will emerge as kingmaker Telegraph Picture

Exit polls might have ruled out the electoral emergence of the JVM, but party chief Babulal Marandi is confident that he will emerge as kingmaker at least. Marandi is contesting from Dhanwar seat. “Marandiji was at the party office. On Monday, he will leave for Dhanwar. We are already organising celebrations,” said JVM media in-charge Tauhid Alam. The JVM is hoping to win 15 seats.

Marandi rebutted speculation that he was in touch with the BJP. “Every election, there are speculations that I will join or support the BJP. How can I support the BJP that tried to finish me?” he said.

The Congress has opened lines of communication with Marandi to garner support in case the UPA alliance doesn’t get magic number.

In Jamshedpur, BJP rebel and challenger to Das, Saryu Roy had a quiet day at his Bistupur residence.