Koda agrees to bow out for Soren

New Delhi, August 22: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren is set to stake claim to form the Government in Jharkhand with Chief Minister Madhu Koda on Friday agreeing to vacate the chair in his favour. Koda, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday, will return to Ranchi on Saturday to put in his papers.

While the UPA camp agreed to support Soren, they remained apprehensive about the numbers as Independent MLAs, many of whom had earlier opposed Soren’s installation on the coveted chair, are yet to declare a change in their stance. To enlist their support, all MLAs supporting the UPA Government in Jharkhand have been asked to come to New Delhi on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Koda, accompanied by Congress leader Kripashankar Singh, called on Sonia Gandhi who had on Thursday prevailed over RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, Koda’s patron, to back Soren’s bid for the top post. Koda was apparently left with little choice.

Following the meeting at 10, Janpath, top UPA leaders gathered again at External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s residence late on Friday. Emerging from the meeting, the RJD chief said the leaders would meet again on Saturday to take a final decision on this issue. The meeting was attended by political secretary to the Congress president Ahmed Patel, Soren, Koda and, significantly, Stephen Marandi who has been opposed to Soren’s installation as CM.

Earlier in the day, the Congress also hinted clearly that it had made up its mind to throw its weight behind Soren, as early election in the state could give further momentum to the BJP, which is on a strong wicket in Jharkhand. “There should be no communal Government in Jharkhand,” AICC spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters.

Despite the UPA endorsing Soren’s wish, the JMM chief could still find the going tough. His rival Stephen Marandi — Deputy Chief Minister in the Koda Government — said during the meeting that he was not in a position to assure his and the support of other Independents.

“I clearly said if the UPA wants us to resign we can, but I cannot assure our support to the change of leadership in the state,” Marandi told The Indian Express.

Marandi is presently leading a group of five Independents who are opposed to Soren’s candidature. Besides, there were some cracks in the Congress party also. Party MLA Thomas Hansda continues to assert that he would even defy a party whip to vote against Soren.