Date:18/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/18/stories/2008081857630100.htm

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JMM withdraws support to Koda government

Coalition government in Jharkhand reduced to a minority

Photo: PTI

CRISIS in Jharkhand: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha president Shibu Soren arrives to attend a party meeting in Ranchi on Sunday. —

Ranchi: The 23-month-old Madhu Koda-led coalition government in Jharkhand was reduced to a minority on Sunday night after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) withdrew its support, in pursuit of its agenda to get Mr. Koda replaced by its supremo Shibu Soren.

Executing his threat made on August 12 that the JMM would pull out of the United Progressive Alliance-backed government if Mr. Koda was not removed, Mr. Soren handed over the letter of withdrawal of support to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi after day-long deliberations in the party. He was accompanied by three of the five JMM MPs and all 17 MLAs of the party.

Wafer-thin majority

In a House of 81, the coalition government had a wafer-thin majority with the support of 42 MLAs, but after the 17 JMM legislators pulled out, Mr. Koda, an Independent, was in trouble. Besides the Congress (9) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (7) lending support to the coalition from outside, five Independents and four legislators of smaller parties were backing the government.

Mr. Koda expressed confidence that a way out of the crisis would be found and said he would consult the UPA’s central leadership.

Asked whether he had staked claim to the chief ministership, Mr. Soren said it would depend on the Governor’s decision in the matter. In its letter to Mr. Razi, the JMM had requested him that the possibility of formation of an alternative government should be explored.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, with 30 MLAs and the backing of seven legislators of the Janata Dal (United), indicated that it would favour fresh elections.— PTI