JMM seeks more time from governor to form govt

Ranchi, Jan 12: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) today informed Governor Syed Ahmad that it is trying to cobble up a government in the state and sought more time for this.

"We told the Governor there is scope to form a new government in Jharkhand and asked for some time to prove our majority," JMM leader Hemant Soren said later.

A Congress delegation met the governor too and urged him not to dissolve the Assembly. "We are against President's Rule. We feel the Assembly should not be dissolved. The JMM has staked a claim and should be given a chance to form the next government. The decision to back them will be taken by the Congress leadership in Delhi," the party's floor leader Rajendra Singh told newspersons.

Earlier this week, JMM withdrew support to the BJP-led government in Jharkhand as the ruling party did not heed its main ally's demand to remove Arjun Munda from the chief minister's post. JMM leaders claimed that BJP had promised to share power with them back in Sept 2010 and now it is their turn to rule.

BJP denied having struck any such deal 28 months ago and rejected JMM's suggestion to replace Munda with any one else from the ruling party. Nevertheless, JMM pressed for the chief minister's post.

On Jan 7, members of the party's central committee decided to pull out of the government. The next day, JMM leaders officially conveyed their decision to the governor. Arjun Munda then submitted his resignation and recommended dissolution of the Assembly.

Both BJP and JMM have 18 legislators in the 81-member House. The Munda government had received backing from six MLAs of the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and two legislators of the Janata Dal (United).

JMM seems to be hoping to join hands with the Congress and form a new government with the support of some other smaller parties. It remains to be seen whether their combined strength will ensure a stable government in the state where as many as eight regimes have failed to complete their terms in the past 12 years.

OneIndia News