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Koda meets Sonia; decision on trust vote today

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda met Congress president Sonia Gandhi late on Friday evening. After the meeting, he told reporters that he would announce his decision on whether to seek a trust vote or not on Saturday.

The meeting between Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Koda came amid considerable speculation of the way being cleared for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren to become Chief Minister. However, a clearer picture is likely to emerge only over the weekend as the hour of reckoning approaches on Monday when Mr. Koda has been asked by the Governor to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Ahead of the meeting between Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Koda, the Congress maintained that its primary concern was to ensure a secular government in Jharkhand. “`We have to keep the communal forces out,” said Union Minister of State for Home and Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Koda met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad but no details were forthcoming on what transpired at the meeting. The position of Mr. Prasad – who is known to be more inclined towards Mr. Koda – is that the RJD would take a decision after the Independent legislators make up their mind.

On Thursday, Mr. Soren met Ms.Gandhi even as the Congress reiterated its stated position that it would support his bid to become Chief Minister if he could muster the numbers. While the Congress is maintaining an equidistance from both Mr. Soren and Mr. Koda, it is hoping that the spectre of an early election will resolve the stalemate created due to JMM’s withdrawal of support.

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