RJD to support JMM chief Soren to form Govt in J'khand

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) Seven MLAs of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will extend support to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo Shibu Soren to form the next government in Jharkhand following the resignation of Chief Minister Madhu Koda.

RJD Minister and Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad announced this after a meeting of party MLAs at his residence.

Mr Prasad said the support letter of his party for the JMM has already been prepared and was being sent to state Governor Syed Sibtey Razi.

He said the decision to make Mr Soren the Chief Minister had been taken by UPA and so all secular parties should support him.

The decision of the RJD comes in the wake of Mr Koda's resignation today, ahead of the confidence vote scheduled for August 25.

Mr Koda also had a meeting with Mr Prasad yesterday.

However, Mr Prasad said a decision about the RJD's participation in the Government would be taken later.

In the 81-member House, the JMM has 17 MLAs, the Congress nine and the RJD seven.

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