JMM chief Shibu Soren got a shot in the arm when six Independents and NCP MLA Kamlesh Singh extended him support in his attempt to form a new Government in Jharkhand.

Independent Bhanu Pratap Sahi, whom Soren met on Sunday, offered him support but with a rider. “We have set a 12-point charter of demands before Guruji (Soren), and if he agrees to them we will support him,” Sahi told newsmen.

Sahi said Soren also had the backing of Bandhu Tirkey, Joba Manjhi and Enos Ekka, hours after caretaker Chief Minister Madhu Koda claimed he and five Independents would not support Soren. Earlier, the JMM said it would stake its claim on Monday to form the Government.

Kamlesh Singh said since NCP was in the UPA, so also was the JMM. “So I am going to support Guruji when he stakes claim for formation of Government,” Singh told reporters in presence of senior RJD MLA Girinath Singh and JMM’s Sudhir Mahto. Singh is the lone member of the NCP in the 82-member House with a vacant seat.

Soren also received a boost when RJD supremo Lalu Prasad said in Patna that the former had almost become the CM. He said all five Independents about whom Koda was talking about were in constant touch with him and had expressed solidarity with Soren.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and state unit chief P N Singh demanded that Governor Syed Sibtey Razi should invite the single largest party or formation for forming Government before the 17-member JMM stakes claim.