Koda seeks time to prove majority

Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda called on Governor Syed Sibtey Razi on Monday and sought time to prove his government's majority in the House.

The monsoon session of Vidhan Sabha is set to commence on September 19.

The UPA-backed Koda government looks like it has been reduced to a minority after the JMM withdrew support to the government. The trigger: Its demand for Soren as CM was not met. The party has 17 MLAs.

Responding to a call from the Raj Bhavan, Koda met the Governor this evening. Prior to this, he held an emergency cabinet meeting attended by all Independent ministers.

Later, Koda told reporters he was confident of proving his majority at any time.

"However, I have urged him (the governor) to fix the date for the trust vote any time after September 19, when the monsoon session commences," he said.

Earlier in the day, delegations of NDA leaders led by BJP chief P.N. Singh and NDA convener Radha Krishna Kishore met the Governor and sought the imposition of president's rule.

Former chief minister and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) leader Babulal Marandi also called on him, requesting him not to expose the state to another political experiment.

As the central leaders of the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal declined to intervene, JMM legislators met under the leadership of party chief Sibu Soren to explore the possibility of forming an alternative government headed by the JMM.

"We are in fact waiting for the clear-cut stand from the Congress and the RJD to chart out our next course," said JMM spokesperson Suprio Bhattacharya.