Soren claims RJD support in bid for Jharkhand chief ministership

Shibu Soren's hopes of making a comeback as Jharkhand chief minister by replacing incumbent Madhu Koda received a boost today with the Rashtriya Janata Dal assuring the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo of its support.

Soren said after his meeting with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in Delhi that the railway minister had not only promised his party's backing, but also assured him help in securing the support of independents.

JMM general secretary Hemlal Murmu was with Soren when he met Lalu Prasad.

The development is expected to help Soren in a big way as Congress has already assured him support.

"We are behind Soren like a rock. Not only will our (nine) MLAs support him on the floor of the House, but we will also make efforts to make him the chief minister," All India Congress Committee secretary Abdul Manan had said in Ranchi on Wednesday.

Two suspended BJP MLAs -- Vishnu Bhayya and Manohar Tekriwal -- have also favoured the JMM leader's bid for chief ministership.

Both Bhayya and Tekriwal had been suspended for siding with former chief minister Babulal Marandi.