BackJMM pulls the plug, Koda govt reduced to a minority
JMM pulls the plug, Koda govt reduced to a minority
PremiumHopeful: JMM’s Shibu Soren. Photograph: PTI
Ranchi: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, or JMM, on Sunday decided to withdraw support to the Madhu Koda-led coalition government in Jharkhand and explore the possibility of making its leader Shibu Soren chief minister with the support of independents. “We have taken the decision to withdraw the support from the state government," JMM general secretary Hemlal Murmu said.
Soren handed over the withdrawal letter to Governor S. S. Razi. The JMM has 17 MLAs in the 81-member state assembly. This withdrawal of support will reduce the Koda government, backed by the Congress and parties such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal, or RJD, to a minority.
Koda now has the support of nine Congress MLAs, including the speaker, seven RJD legislators, besides some independents and rebel MLAs.
Although the JMM is confident that independents will fall in line, most ministers aren’t showing any signs of withdrawing support for Koda or willingness to accept Soren as chief minister. Water resources minister Kamlesh Singh said they are still with Koda. “No instruction has come from the United Progressive Alliance leadership on change of guard in the state," he said.
In the opposition camp, Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha have ruled out any chance of siding with the JMM.
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