Hemant Soren stakes claim to form government in Jharkhand

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislature party leader Hemant Soren has staked claim to form a new government in the 82-member state assembly.

He met Governor Sayed Ahmed on Tuesday evening to do so. Soren handed over a list of 43 MLAs supporting him to the Governor.

The latest development in this regard comes nine days before the six-month period of President's rule ends in Jharkhand. The state was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000.

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 their support to the new JMM/Congress/RJD alliance.

Geeta Koda, another independent MLA and wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, has also extended her support to the new alliance.

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.

If Ekka lends his support to the alliance then the Hemant Soren-led coalition will have the support of 44 MLAs in the 82-member House.

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