Hemant moves to form govt

Leader of the Congress legislative party Rajendra Prasad,Pradesh Congress president Sukhdeo Bhagat and RJD’s Annapurna Devi were also present along with Hemant. “This government will launch itself into the developmental works of the state with enthusiasm,” said Hemant after meeting the Governor.

Apart from its 18 legislators,the JMM has claimed the support of 13 Congress MLAs,five from the RJD and seven representing single-legislator-parties or Independents. The Jharkhand Assembly has 81 elected members and a nominated Anglo-Indian member.

Despite announcing that they would meet the Governor on Tuesday,the JMM was kept on tenterhooks by Geeta Koda,wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda and legislator from Jagannathpur,who withheld her letter of support till afternoon. Subsequently,a 5.30 pm appointment was sought and received from the Raj Bhavan. “We had to wait till the evening as the Congress LP leader was on his way back from Delhi. We now await word from the Raj Bhavan,” said JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya.

Geeta Koda’s support was won only after Hemant,PCC president Bhagat and Bandhu Tirkey — legislator of the Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch who has worked as a representative of the seven other legislators — met her. Despite rumours that she bargained hard for a ministerial position,Geeta said she had waited for her supporters to approve the move. “I am doing this for the development of the Kolhan region. I have demanded a medical college in Chaibasa and many such needs. A ministerial position is not a priority right now. As for my husband,I expect justice from the courts,” she said after submitting her letter of support. She is MLA of the Jai Bharat Samanta Party.

With the tally of 42 reached,Jharkhand Party’s Enos Ekka — legislator from Simdega’s Kolebira and former minister in the Koda cabinet against whom several corruption cases are pending — also sent in his letter of support.