Koda quits, paves way for Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda resigned today after the top UPA leadership advised him to step down, paving the way for JMM supremo Shibu Soren to take over the reins of the state.

Koda met Governor Syed Sibte Razi here this evening after a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi earlier in the day and handed over his resignation, capping a week of political turmoil for his government following withdrawal of support by the JMM, which has 17 MLAs in the 82-member Assembly.

After meeting the governor, Koda told reporters that after meeting Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, he felt that the UPA leadership, which had supported him for the last two years, did not back him any more.

“That is why I felt it was right for me to submit the resignation to the governor”, he added.

“After the turn of events in the last 10-12 days, morally and democratically, I felt I should resign and that is why I handed over my resignation to the governor”, said Koda.

The JMM withdrew support to the Koda government on August 17.

Koda met the governor shortly after returning here from New Delhi and meeting independent legislators, five of whom are ministers in his government--Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi, Health Minister Bhanupratap Sahi, Welfare Minister Joba Majhi, Technology Minister Chandraprakash Choudhury and Urban Development Minister Harinarain Rai.

Congress Legislature Party leader in Jharkhand, Manoj Yadav, told reporters in New Delhi that the UPA leaders advised Koda to quit.