Sibu's wife demands CM's post for her "freed" husband

Dumka, Aug 22 (UNI) In a major statement with far-reaching political ramification, Sibu Soren's wife Rupi Soren today openly said her husband should be made the Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Sibu Soren was acquitted by the Delhi High Court yesterday in connection with the Shashinath Jha murder case.

Ms Soren, after meeting her husband in the Dumka Central Jail, made no bones about her dissatisfaction over UPA-backed Chief Minister Madhu Koda's alleged misgovernance.

The statement by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha(JMM) supremo's wife assumed significance as Mr Koda was the first to congratulate Mr Soren on his acquittal yesterday.

Later, Mr Koda, who in the past three days had been under intense pressure from the Opposition over a corruption charge leading to the adjournment of the monsoon session sine die yesterday said he was ready to make way for 'Guruji', as Sibu Soren was called by people here, to take over the reins of the state government.

Mr Koda said he would abide by any such instruction from the UPA high command.

Ms Soren who, along with son Hemant, visited the incarcerated JMM president at the Dumka Central Jail, told reporters that her husband had done a lot for the state and he ''deserves the Chief Minister's post''.

Expressing happiness over the court's verdict, she said the order was a vindication of her husband's innocence and their faith in the judiciary.

She expressed dissatisfaction over the functioning of the Koda-led government and said everything would be alright since the JMM supremo was now out of jail.

Mr Soren, facing life term for killing his personal assistant Shashinath Jha, was shifted to Dumka Central Jail on January 5 after a warrant was issued by a local Jamtara court.

UNI