JMM leader Hemant Soren on Tuesday staked claim to form Jharkhand’s next government with the support of the Congress and the RJD, claiming to have the assured support of 43 MLAs, one more than the magic number of 42 needed for a simple majority.
Mr Soren, who was deputy chief minister during Jharkhand’s previous coalition government led by Arjun Munda of the BJP, met governor Syed Ahmed in the evening and submitted a list of 43 MLAs, including all the six independent legislators, along with the letters of support they purportedly wrote. Set to become chief minister and remain in the post till the present Assembly’s tenure ends in December 2014, Hemant Soren now waits for the governor’s invitation to form a JMM-Congress-RJD government.
“I have staked claim with the support of 43 MLAs for a popular, democratic government to be formed in Jharkhand. We will offer our best services for the progress of the state,” said Hemant Soren after meeting the governor. He was accompanied by his father and JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, himself a former CM of Jharkhand, Congress state president Sukhdeo Bhagat, several MLAs from the Congress and the RJD, and some of the Independent MLAs.
Earlier in the day, Hemant Soren was unanimously elected as leader of the new coalition of parties set to rule Jharkhand. After hectic efforts over the past three days, the JMM managed to ensure the support of enough MLAs to reach the magic figure for a simple majority in the state’s 82-member fractured Assembly. The JMM has 18 MLAs while the Congress and the RJD have 13 and 5 respectively. The main Opposition BJP and JVM have 18 and 11 MLAs respectively.
Tuesday’s development, coming nine days before President’s Rule in the state expires, cleared the decks for formation of the ninth government in the politically unstable state’s 12 years in existence. The BJP renewed its demand for fresh polls in Jharkhand and said it would observe a “day of shame” when Mr Soren would be sworn in.
The JVM also planned to observe the day as “black day”.