Governor yet to decide on Jharkhand house dissolution

Outgoing deputy chief minister Hemant Soren and other leaders of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) reached New Delhi Tuesday night to hold talks with Congress leaders, party sources said here Wednesday.

"We will discuss the current political situation," said Soren, son of the party chief Shibu Soren.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda resigned Tuesday after the JMM formally pulled out of the coalition government, reducing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led ministry into a minority in the 82-member house.

Jharkhand Congress in charge Shakeel Ahmad has said that his party would take a stand after the governor takes a decision -- to dissolve the house or impose President's Rule.

If the governor accepts the outgoing cabinet suggestion to dissolve the house, then President's Rule will be the only option.

The 28-month-old Munda government collapsed after the JMM withdrew support, objecting to the BJP's refusal to share the chief minister's post with it despite the two parties having an equal number of legislators.

The JMM then began exploring the chances of forming a government in the state with Congress backing.

Congress legislators, the RJD and some independents favour forming a new government along with the JMM.

If the Congress, RJD and independents support JMM, then 41 legislators would be in a position to try cobbling a coalition. Of the 82 legislators, 37 are in favour of a new mandate.

The 37 include 18 of the BJP, six of AJSU, two of JD-U and 11 of JVM-P.