UPA in a fix as Koda turns back on Soren

The declaration of outgoing Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda that he would not support a government led by JMM chief Shibu Soren has stunned the UPA leadership here, since both Koda and Stephen Marandi had put in their signatures on a written agreement supporting the change of leadership.

The agreement was drafted at the three hour-long meeting of UPA leaders at the residence of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee late on Friday evening. Both the Congress and the RJD had planned to participate in the government led by the JMM chief. Under the changed circumstances however the two parties may have to question the stability of a Soren-led government.