BJP calls on Jharkhand Governor to form government

Ranchi : Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday called on Governor M O H Farooq with a proposal to form a Bharatiya Janata Party government in Jharkhand with the support of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s legislators.

The Governor assured him that he will look into the matter and let him know after Munda claimed the support of forty-five MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) in the house of eighty-two, Raj Bhawan sources said.

Munda met the governor soon after he was made the BJP’s legislature party leader.

Jharkhand is under President’s rule since June 1 last after the BJP and JMM parted ways following cross voting by Shibu Soren in the Lok Sabha during cut motions in the Budget session in April brought by BJP and Left parties.

Shibu Soren resigned from the chief minister’s post on May 30 following withdrawal of support by the BJP and the state came under President’s Rule on June 1.

The JMM has offered “unconditional” support to the BJP after which its legislature party elected former Chief Minister Arjun Munda as its leader.

BJP’s state unit president Raghuvar Das said that they have given a list of forty-five legislators to the Governor requesting him to invite Arjun Munda to form the new government.

He said that in the list of 45 MLAs, the name of JMM member Poulus Surin, did not figure as he is in judicial custody.

In the list submitted to the Governor, there were 18 MLAs each of BJP and JMM, two from Janata Dal (United), five from All Jharkhand Students Union and two independent MLAs – Chamra Linda and Bidesh Singh.

“JMM has extended unconditional support to BJP’s initiatives to form a government,” Jharkhand Mukti Morcha spokesman Suprio Bhattacharya said.

Besides Munda and Das, AJSU president Sudesh Mahto and JMM leader Hemant Soren, son of the JMM chief, were present at the Raj Bhavan.

All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) vice-president Praveen Prabhakar said his five-member legislature party has extended full support to the BJP’s initiative.

Congress has 14 MLAs and its Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) has 11.

The total strength of the Jharkhand Assembly is 82. One nominated MLA from Anglo-Indian community, Joseph P Galstaun, died in June.