Shibu Soren set to meet Jharkhand Governor

Ranchi, Aug 17: After threatening to withdraw support to the coalition government in Jharkhand led by the incumbent Madhu Koda if the Chief Minister did not resign by Sunday, Aug 17, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren will meet State Governor Syed Sibtey Razi this evening.

According to sources, the JMM leaders have an appointment to meet Razi at 7:00 pm, when they are likely to execute the threat. Before meeting Razi, the JMM's Central Committee and legislature party will hold a crucial meeting to take a final decision. Amid rumour that some legislative members of the party might abstain from the meeting, the JMM has issued a whip asking all its 17 MLAs to be present.

Meantime, the Governor has approved the state cabinet's decision to convene the monsoon session of the Assembly from September 19 to 25.

Earlier, Soren had asked Koda to quit soon, otherwise support to the State Government would be withdrawn. As some independent MLAs wanted Koda to continue, he was not ready to resign. In the 82-member Assembly, Koda is managing a thin majority of 42 MLAs.

The 17-member JMM legislative party, including three ministers, is supporting the UPA coalition from within. The Congress with nine MLAs, and the RJD with seven MLAs, are supporting Koda from outside. The remaining nine MLAs are from either small parties or Independents.

With 29 members in the House, the state BJP is taking stock of the political situation in Jharkhand. BJP leader and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda is likely to meet the party's central leadership in Delhi on the issue.

ANI