JMM withdraws support to Koda govt

NEW DELHI/RANCHI: With the 17-member Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) withdrawing support to the Madhu Koda government on Sunday, Shibu Soren has inched closer to his long-cherised dream of becoming chief minister of the state which he helped create. ( Watch )

However, Soren will need the help of the Congress and RJD besides the all-powerful Independents if he is to realise his dream. Though Congress and RJD have promised support, the real party poppers could be the eight Independent MLAs. Congress owes Soren for saving the UPA government during the trust vote on July 22 but JMM sources told TOI that the RJD's support could not be taken for granted.

Railway minister Lalu Prasad, who had handpicked Koda for the top job, has been against Soren taking over as CM.

For the past three years, Independents have been holding the reins of power in Jharkhand, and would agree for nothing less than plum ministerial berths in exchange of support. All of them are ministers in the Koda government. Even Koda is an Independent MLA.

After day-long deliberations, the JMM handed over a letter to governor Syed Sibte Razi withdrawing support to the government. A delegation consisting of all 17 MLAs, five MPs and members of the party's central committee met Razi at Raj Bhawan under the leadership of Soren.

Three cabinet ministers in the Koda government from JMM — deputy CM Sudhir Mahato, agriculture minister Nalin Soren and land and revenue minister Dulal Bhuiyan also handed their resignations individually. Razi later said he would take a decision that was legally and constitutionally correct. The Independents had a long meeting with Koda after JMM withdrew support. It is expected that they would bargain hard with Soren.

Unwilling to speak about the JMM's strategy in terms of staking claim to government formation, Soren said they had not decided on anything. "We have simply handed over a letter intimating withdrawal of support, now the governor is all powerful to take any decision to call any one for forming the government," he said.

Source : Times of India