World | India
Soren stakes claim to form next government
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren yesterday formally staked the claim to forming the next government in Jharkhand even as outgoing chief minister Madhu Koda finally softened his stance and expressed support for him.
- IANS
- Published: 23:12 August 25, 2008
Ranchi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren yesterday formally staked the claim to forming the next government in Jharkhand even as outgoing chief minister Madhu Koda finally softened his stance and expressed support for him.
Soren met Governor Syed Sibte Razi and presented a letter of support of 42 legislators.
He was accompanied by Koda, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, central minister and Congress MP Subodh Kant Sahay and independent legislators to the governor house.
Forced to step down
"I have submitted a list of 42 legislators to the governor. The numbers would further go up," Soren told reporters. His letter names nine legislators of the Congress, seven of Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and eight independents, apart from JMM's 17 legislators.
Koda, who was forced to step down on Saturday to make space for Soren, took a U-turn and extended his support to the JMM chief after a meeting with him and Lalu in the afternoon.
"I have extended support to Shibu Soren. No one is above UPA [United Progressive Alliance]," Koda told reporters. However, asked about joining the next government, he said: "I have not decided about it."
The Koda government was reduced to minority after JMM withdrew support to it August 17. Koda stepped down following advice from the central UPA leadership.
While the Congress and the RJD had announced their support to Soren, he managed to win over eight independents, including Koda, one after the other.
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