Power game in Jharkhand: Govt to prove majority

Jharkhand:Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi Monday night asked Chief Minister Madhu Koda to prove his majority in the assembly on or before Aug 25. Earlier, Koda met the governor and said he would prove his majority on the floor of the house. "I will prove majority on the floor of the house. The assembly session has already been convened," Koda had told reporters.

The monsoon session of the assembly has been convened between Sep 19 and 25. Koda went alone to meet the governor after holding a marathon cabinet meeting. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) withdrew support to the 23-month-old Koda government on Sunday evening, reducing it to a minority. In the 82-member house, Koda now enjoys the support of only 25 legislators.

Koda, an Independent or unattached legislator, became chief minister with the support of the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), both part of the UPA, and smaller parties as well as eight other Independents.

JMM leader Shibu Soren, who became the chief minister for nine days after the assembly elections in 2005, last Tuesday staked his claim to become chief minister but Koda refused to step down.

Soren secured the backing of the Congress after supporting the Manmohan Singh government in the crucial parliament trust vote of July 22.

JMM has only 17 MLAs while the Congress and RJD has nine and seven legislators each. The BJP has 29 MLAs, the JDU has six and the rest are from smaller parties, including three Independents.

So far neither Congress nor RJD has come forward to bail out Soren and some legislators have played the fence sitter's role while Independent ministers are standing rock solid behind Koda despite claims to the contrary.

Koda has now only 25 MLAs with him including the Speaker's vote.

Chances of one MLA each of Forward Block and CPI(ML)to join either of the government is also bleak.

With this realisation weighing upon legislators, who may not like to risk the mid-term poll, including two ministers in the Koda government. Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bandhu Tirki even met Soren seeking to work out a middle path to resolve the issue.

However, with both sides now adopting rigid postures, chances of any rapprochement have dimmed. The experts said it would not be a surprise if the whole scenario leads to President's rule in the state.