Jharkhand: Hemant Soren stakes claim to form govt

A month shy of his 38th birthday, JMM chief Sibu Soren’s son Hemant Soren on Tuesday staked claim to form the government in Jharkhand, having assured himself of the support 43 legislators.

A month shy of his 38th birthday, JMM chief Sibu Soren’s son Hemant Soren on Tuesday staked claim to form the government in Jharkhand, having assured himself of the support 43 legislators.

“A popular government is the need of the time. I am confident of proving majority in the floor test whenever asked,” Hemant Soren said after meeting governor Syed Ahmed at 5.30pm and giving him the list of the legislators backing his government.

“We are ready and waiting for the governor’s invitation. Even if he does it tomorrow, we are ready.”

Soren needed the support of 42 MLAs in the 82-member assembly — in suspended animation following the imposition of President’s rule in the state on January 18 — to form the government. President’s rule in the state ends on July 18.

A JMM leader said the governor had told Hemant Soren he would recommend revoking President’s rule at the earliest to pave the way for formation of government.

The buzz is that Soren will initially take oath of office along with two to three MLAs and expand his ministry later. This will be decided in consultation with the Congress, with which the JMM has entered into a pre-poll alliance for the next LS polls in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and Chattisgarh.