Shibu Soren to take oath as Jharkhand CM tomorrow
26 Aug 2008, 1119 Hrs

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Ranchi, Aug 26 (ANI): Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren will take oath as the next chief minister of the state on Wednesday. This would be his second stint in the State CM Office in the past three years.

He will have to prove majority on the floor of the State Assembly on September 1, as per a directive from the Raj Bhawan.

The swearing-in ceremony of the 64-year-old tribal leader will be held at the Morabadi Ground at around 4:00 p.m.

Soren's path to the post was cleaned last evening when the State Governor Syed Sibtey Razi invited him to form the next government in the state.

Earlier, last week Soren had withdrawn support from the Madhu Koda-led UPA government in Jharkhand, thereby reducing the government to a minority.

In 2005, after being sworn in as the state CM, he had to resign, as he couldn't prove his majority in the House. His stint lasted nine days.

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

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