Jharkhand Governor invites Soren to form government
25 Aug 2008, 2150 Hrs

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Ranchi, August 25 (ANI): Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi on Monday invited Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren to form the next government in the State.

The Principal Secretary to the Governor, Sudhir Tripathi told reporters that Soren has been asked by the Governor to prove his majority on the floor of the House by September 1st.

Soren withdrew support from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-led government in Jharkhand.

Earlier in the day, he staked the claim to form government. He along with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJP) chief and Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda had called on Governor at his house in Ranchi.

"Our strength may go up...we have support of 45 to 46 legislators," Soren told reporters after submitting list of legislators to the Governor.

Jharkhand had slipped into political uncertainty after JMM withdrew support to the 23-month old Koda led UPA government on August 17, reducing Koda's government to a minority.

Soren's attempts to lead the government in the state went in vain when he had to resign from his brief stint of Chief Ministership in 2005 after he could not muster a majority on the floor of the House. 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 Soren and the JMM is lobbying to get backing of at least three more independents to reach the magic figure.

Koda submitted his resignation to Governor on Saturday, after which Razi asked him to continue till an alternative arrangement is made. (ANI)