We are supporting Munda in Kharsawan bypoll: Soren

Ranchi, Jan 18 (PTI) JMM chief Shibu Soren today saidall the ruling coalition partners in Jharkhand are supportingChief Minister Arjun Munda in his bid to enter the stateAssembly by contesting Kharsawan bypoll on February 10.

"Arjun Munda is our joint candidate for the Kharsawanassembly bypoll. I will try to join him tomorrow when he willfile his nomination," Soren told a joint press conferencealong with Munda and his two deputies Sudesh Mahto (AJSU) andHemant Soren (JMM).

"Though I can''t predict the margin, we are optimistic ofhis win," said Soren, who himself had failed to enter thehouse after losing Tamar bypoll in 2009 that led him to quitthe Chief Minister''s post.

A Lok Sabha member from Jamshedpur, Munda, took oath onSeptember 11 and has to become an MLA within six months fromthat date to continue as Chief Minister.

On who would contest from Jamshedpur once the Lok Sabhaseat falls vacant, both Soren and Munda said "first thingfirst. Now our focus is on Kharsawan."

On November 30, BJP''s Mangal Singh Soy had quit theKharswan seat to make way for Munda.