Soren stakes claim, gives Razi list of 42

BY AMIT AGNIHOTRI

New Delhi

Aug. 25: JMM chief Shibu Soren staked claim for the post of Jharkhand chief minister on Monday submitting a list of 42 MLAs supporting him to governor Syed Sibtey Razi.

" I have submitted a signed list of 42 MLAs," said JMM chief Shibu Soren.

The governor has invited Mr Soren to form the next government and prove his majority on the floor of the House on or before September 1.

JMM spokesman and Lok Sabha MP Hemlal Murmu told this newspaper on Monday, "The swearing in of the new government is likely to be held on August 27. The trust vote would come later."

Making a deft political move, Mr Soren managed to rope in former CM Madhu Koda (who was not ready to support him earlier) along with three other Independents including Mr Stephen Marandi, Mr Harinarain Rai and Mr Bhanu Pratap Sahi, in endorsing his claim.

The JMM has 17 MLAs in the House of 81(effective strength as one seat is vacant). Congress’ 9 and RJD’s 7 members are also backing Mr Soren’s candidature.

Besides, 2 United Goan Democratic Party (UGDP) MLAs Joba Manjhi and Bandhu Tirkey too agreed to support Mr Soren.

The lone NCP MLA Kamlesh Singh had already announced his support to the JMM chief while one legislator each from the Jharkhand Party and the Forward Bloc also joined the bandwagon.

Having tasted power for just 9 days between March 2, 2005 and March 11, 2005, when he failed to prove majority in the House during the current Assembly, the wily JMM chief is now getting ready for his second innings with the blessings of the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was present when Mr Soren went to meet the governor on Monday.

Political watchers said as most MLAs in the state do not want to have President’s Rule imposed in the eventuality of Mr Soren losing the impending confidence vote once again, his dream of running Jharkhand appears to be more realistic this time.