RJD wishes to join Koda Govt in Jharkhand

RJD had earlier declared to support the week-long Madhu Koda government from outside.

RJD, which earlier declared to support the week-long Madhu Koda government from outside, on Tuesday expressed its desire to join the cabinet.

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In-charge of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Jharkhand Ramai Ram, said keeping in mind the present political scene, the party Legislators should join the UPA-backed Madhu Koda government.

Ram said to provide stability to the UPA-backed Madhu Koda government, it was necessary for the party MLAs to join the government and added that he would also talk to the Railway Minister and party's national president Lalu Prasad Yadav in this regard.

Ram said the new government in Jharkhand was formed by the Independent MLAs and was backed by the UPA, including the Congress, JMM and RJD.

He said the Congress and the JMM had joined the government but his party was supporting it from outside.

To a query, he said there was no conflict in the UPA regarding the speaker's post, adding the Congress with larger number of MLAs had the claim and a legislator from the party would be the speaker in the State Assembly.

The RJD leader said every legislator wished to become a minister but it was not possible as the maximum number of ministerial berths in Jharkhand was limited to 12, adding none favoured mid-term polls.

Eight ministers had been inducted in the Koda government after the first expansion on September 24.

He claimed that the Koda government was in a strong position and urged the MLAs aspiring to become ministers not to make any demand, which was not reasonable.

A section of RJD MLAs had earlier staked their claim for ministerial berths in the government but party's national president announced to extend outside support to the government.