Jharkhand: Soren inching towards majority

Shibu Soren on Sunday got a shot in the arm when Nationalist Congress Party MLA Kamlesh Singh extended him support as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo is calling on independent legislators in his attempt to form a new government in Jharkhand.

Independent Bhanu Pratap Sahi also 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 after Soren went to his residence seeking help.

Sahi claimed 'Guruji' also had the backing of Bandhu Tirkey, Joba Manjhi (UGDP) and Enos Ekka (Ind), hours after caretaker Chief Minister Madhu Koda claimed he and five independents would not support Soren to form a new government.

Kamlesh Singh said since NCP is in the United Progressive Alliance, so also is the JMM.

"So I am going to support Guruji when he stakes claim for formation of government," Kamlesh Singh told reporters in presence of senior Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA Girinath Singh and JMM's Sudhir Mahto.

Both Mahto and Girinath Singh called on Kamlesh Singh at his residence in Ranchi. Kamlesh 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 Yadav said in Patna that Soren had almost become the chief minister of the state.

Lalu Prasad said all the five Independent MLAs about whom Koda was talking were in constant touch with him and had expressed solidarity with Soren.

Meanwhile, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha demanded that Governor Syed Sibtey Razi should invite the single largest party or formation for forming government before the 17-member JMM stakes claim.