Soren's acquittal has shattered BJP's designs: Koda

RANCHI: The acquittal of JMM leader Shibu Soren by Delhi High Court had shattered the opposition design to create fissures in the ruling UPA in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Madhu Koda said on Thursday.

"The opposition, particularly BJP, had been trying to drive a wedge in the UPA alliance ever since the NDA lost power, but the acquittal of Guruji (Soren) will cause the failure of all their designs," he told reporters here.

Reacting to state BJP president PN Singh's prediction of a change in leadership in the UPA dispensation after Soren's acquittal, Koda said BJP should "mind its own business and need not worry about my government which is very much stable".

"Guruji has been the chairman of the Jharkhand UPA steering committee and his presence will only strengthen the alliance towards its endeavour to put Jharkhand on the development path," Koda said.

BJP was worried about the outcome of the coming by-polls for the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat as Soren's presence will boost UPA's prospects, he claimed.

The 11-month-old UPA government led by Koda has a wafer-thin majority in the 81-member state assembly with JMM being the largest coalition member. Congress and RJD support it from outside.