Cong to vote against Koda's confidence motion

Ranchi, Aug 20 (UNI) In a major jolt to Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda who would go for a trial of strength in the House on August 25, the Congress today made it clear that it would vote aginst the trust motion.

State Congress president Pradep Kumar Balmuchu, also an MLA, told a press conference here that the Congress would vote against Mr Koda and support JMM president Shibu Soren if he staked claim to form an alternative government.

The Koda-led UPA government was reduced to minority following JMM's withdrawal of support.

The Congress has seven legislators in the 82-member House, including Tamar Assembly seat that fell vacant following assassination of Ramesh Singh Munda (JD-U).

Mr Balmuchu hoped that Mr Soren would be able to form the new government mustering the required number.

Meanwhile, the RJD, whose strength stood at nine in the House, was yet to come up with a statement favouring Mr Soren.

The RJD so far maintained that it had no objection to Mr Soren becoming the chief minister but was not officially saying that the party would vote against Mr Koda in the House.

The JMM has a strength of 17 MLAs.

The Opposition BJP with 29 members already said it would not back Mr Soren and instead demanded early election in the state.

The Left parties hinted that they might abstain from voting.

UNI PRS KK ARB HT1900