Shibu Soren to take oath tomorrow, UPA meeting held

Ranchi, Aug 26 (UNI) JMM president Shibu Soren(64) will take oath as Jharkhand Chief Minister for the second time tomorrow, after nearly three-and-half year of wait.

Mr Soren announced this after a UPA meeting was held here.

The meeting was also attended by senior Congress leaders-- Subodhkant Sahay, Furkan Ansari (both MPs) besides other RJD leaders.

The JMM persident, however, did not disclose how many would be sworn-in tomorrow.

Mr Soren, MP from Dumka, was expected to take the oath at 1530 hrs at the historic Morabadi ground here, party sources said.

During his first stint as Chief Minister that lasted only for nine days, Guruji (Soren) had to step down as he failed to obtain majority on March 11, 2005.

Meanwhile, the authorities started preparing for tomorrow's function and beefed up security around Mr Soren's residence at Morabadi.

Raj Bhavan sources said they had not received any communication so far from Mr Soren regarding the special session to prove majority as Governor Syed Sibtey Razi last night asked the JMM president to form government and prove majority on or before September one.

According to JMM sources, Mr Soren after swearing-in is understood to hold a cabinet meeting in which the date for floor test would be decided.

Mr Soren yesterday furnished a list of 42 MLAs in the house of 82 including a seat left vacant following the assassination of Ramesh Singh Munda (JD-U) last month.

Mr Soren's 42-mmber list comprises JMM (17), Congress (nine), RJD (seven), United Goan Democratic Party (two), Jharkhand Party (one), Nationalist Congress Party (one), Forward Bloc (one) and four independent MLAs --- Madhu Koda, Stephen Marandi, Harinarai Rai and Bhanu Pratap Sahi.

The Madhu Koda-led UPA government was reduced to a minority after the JMM with 17 MLAs withdrew support on August 17.

Mr Koda submitted his resignation on August 23 paving the way for the JMM chief to be in the saddle.

UNI PRS KK KLC1803