As the political game begins with the withdrawal of support by JMM from the Madu Koda-led government in the mineral-rich state, each of the rival claimant seems yet to play one's ace in the build-up to the climax, according to the experts.

While supporters of JMM boss Sibu Soren claim the party is sure to form a government, Chief Minister Madhu Koda said after his meeting with the Governor on Monday, "I am confident of winning a majority and the game will be played in the House."

Behind every political meet, courtesy call and even hustings, insiders claim hard bargaining to the extent of horse-trading do take place.

These developments seems to make up the quicksilver world of politics in the tribal state and remains to be seen in the final round if Soren or Koda gets hold of the chief ministerial chair once Congress stop blowing the musical pipe from the Centre.

BJP, which said it could come up with numbers that can make Soren occupy the post if it wanted, has taken the issue as a hot potato and demanded fresh elections.

If its demands were fulfilled, the game would come to a premature end with participants and all requiring to assemble at the starting line-up.

For Soren, power seems to elude him with his last tryst with chief ministership in the state in 2005 lasting only for nine days after he failed to muster enough strength on the floor of the House.

Will 2008 be any different for Soren? Observers say only time can tell as the beleaguered Chief Minister Madhu Koda had suggested on Monday with his statement on majority that he would not go down without fighting.

The current political equation is too inconsistent to even remotely favour either Koda or Soren. JMM has only 17 MLAs while the Congress and RJD has nine and seven legislators each. The BJP has 29 MLAs, the JDU has six and the rest are from smaller parties, including three Independents.

So far neither Congress nor RJD has come forward to bail out Soren and some legislators have played the fence-sitter's role while while Independent ministers are standing rock solid behind Koda despite claims to the contrary.

Koda has now only 25 MLAs with him including the Speaker's vote, who is from Congress.

Chances of one MLA each of Forward Block and CPI(ML)to join either of the government is also bleak.

With this realisation weighing upon legislators, who may not like to risk the mid-term poll, including two ministers in the Koda government Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bandhu Tirki even met Soren seeking to work out a middle path to resolve the issue.

However, with both sides now adopting rigid postures, chances of any rapprochement have dimmed.