By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren, all set to form the next government in Jharkhand, is likely to stake his claim Monday.
Shibu Soren’s eldest son Durga Soren and Independent legislator Kamlesh Singh handed over a letter of request to the governor’s office Sunday night and sought time on Monday to formally stake claim to form the next state government.
The JMM has 17 legislators in the 82-member assembly. The Congress and Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD), with nine and seven members respectively, have expressed their support to him. Two suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, Manohar Tekriwal and Vishnu Bhaiya, have also expressed support for Soren.
Soren has succeeded in getting support of six Independent or unattached legislators – Bhanu Pratap Sahi, Harinarayan Rai, Enos Ekka, Jhobha Manjhi, Kamlesh Singh and Bandu Tirkey.
Thus, Soren is counting on support of 41 legislators – reaching the half way mark in the house.
Outgoing chief minister Madhu Koda, who resigned Saturday evening, and two Independent legislators Stephen Marandi and Chandra Prakash Chaudhary, were still sticking to their stand against supporting Soren even as the JMM made efforts to win them over.