The Hindu : Front Page : JMM to stake claim today

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Monday, Aug 25, 2008
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JMM to stake claim today

Ranchi: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) said on Sunday night that it would stake claim to form a government on Monday. Shibu Soren’s party got support from Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad who vowed to install him as Chief Minister at any cost.

After meeting Governor Syed Sibtey Razi at the Raj Bhavan, Mr. Soren’s son Durga and NCP MLA Kamlesh Singh said “we called on him and sought a meeting at 4 p.m. tomorrow. “Guruji (Soren) will stake claim after meeting the Governor.”

Mr. Durga and Mr. Singh told journalists that Mr. Soren would come out with a list of the required number of MLAs but refused to divulge the exact figure. There was no word from the Raj Bhavan.

Requiring a majority of 41 in a House with an effective strength of 81, the JMM has 17 MLAs and the guaranteed support of Congress (9), RJD (7) and NCP (1). Four independents have pledged support to Mr. Soren and the JMM is lobbying to get backing of at least three more independents to reach the magic figure.

Mr. Soren got a shot in the arm when he received the support of Mr. Kamlesh Singh and ‘conditional’ help from Independent MLA Bhanu Pratap Sahi.

Mr. Sahi claimed that Mr. Soren also had the backing of Bandhu Tirkey, Joba Manjhi (UGDP), and Enos Ekka.

Mr. Lalu Prasad said in Patna that Mr. Soren had almost become the Chief Minister and if required he would also travel to Ranchi.

All the five Independent MLAs — whose support the caretaker Chief Minister Madhu Koda had claimed — were in constant touch with him and had expressed solidarity with Mr. Soren, Mr. Prasad said.

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha demanded that the Governor invite the single largest party before the JMM stakes claim.

The BJP has 29 MLAs (including five suspended ones), the Janata Dal (United) has four and has the support of Independent MLA Inder Singh Namdhari.

Koda’s warning

Earlier, ruling out the five independents’ support to the JMM, Mr. Koda warned that it would not be a cakewalk for Mr. Soren and said he was pondering whether to continue in the UPA or take a different course.

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