With last-minute efforts to prevent the JMM chief Shibu Soren from joining hands with the BJP failing on Saturday, Congress leaders in Jharkhand appeared to have accepted the mandate.

So, the party decided not to present a claim for government-formation.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
“Soren should sacrifice his lust for power and join hands with us for a secular government,” Union Food Processing Minister Subodh Kant Sahay said on Saturday morning.
Hours later, Soren visited the Raj Bhawan and staked claim to form the government. He submitted a list of 42 legislators supporting the alliance.
By the evening, the strength of the alliance rose to 46 with two Janata Dal (United) and two independent legislators submitting letters of support.
Check India news real-time updates, latest news on Hindustan Times and more across India.
Advertisement
{{/htLoading}}{{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}}