Soren to stake claim to form Jharkhand government

Armed with the support of 42 MLAs in the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly, JMM Legislature Party leader Hemant Soren would formally stake claim to form government today.

"The JMM leader sought time between 5 pm and 6 pm to stake claim for a new government formation, and Governor Syed Ahmed gave him time at 5.30 pm," said an official attached to Raj Bhavan.

The development comes nine days before the six-month period of President's rule ends.

Yesterday, JMM General Secretary Vinod Pandey had said the party would likely stake claim to form the ninth coalition government today with the required majority.

Marxist Coordination Committee MLA Arup Chatterjee, Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch MLA Bandhu Tirkey and three independent MLAs -- Bidesh Singh, Chamra Linda and Harinarain Rai have already extended support to the new Hemant Soren-led JMM/Congress/RJD alliance.

Geeta Koda, another independent MLA and wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, today extended her support.

Jharkhand Party MLA Enos Ekka said his party has set a 15-point charter and his support to the alliance depends on a written assurance that the demands would be fulfilled by the future government.

Soren has the support of 42 MLAs now and if Ekka lends support, the figure of the new alliance will jump to 44 in the 82-member House.

The President's rule was imposed on January 18 after the JMM pulled out from the BJP-led government on January 8.

The House is currently in suspended animation.