Hemant Soren stakes claim to form govt

• JMM pulled out of BJP-led govt on Jan 8
• Jharkhand under President rule since Jan 18
• Congress assures support to JMM leaders
• President rule set to expire on July 18
• Soren has 43 MLAs' support in 82-member Assembly

Ranchi (PTI): Armed with the support of 43 MLAs in the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Legislature Party leader Hemant Soren formally staked claim to form government on Tuesday. Backed by Congress, Soren met Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed and staked claim to form a new government in the state. Emerging from the Raj Bhavan, Soren said he had submitted to the Governor a list of 43 MLAs supporting his claim to form the government in the state which is under President's rule. "President's rule has been in force in Jharkhand for the last six months and we have initiated the democratic process to form the government with the support of Congress, RJD and independents. "We are ready and waiting for the Governor's invitation. Even if he does it tomorrow, we are ready," Soren said. Jharkhand assembly has 82 seats and is in suspended animation since President's rule was imposed on January 18 after JMM pulled out from the BJP-led government on January 8. The staking of claim to form the government came nine days before the six-month spell of President's rule ends. Soren, who was Deputy Chief Minister in the previous government, was accompanied by Jharkhand PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat, CLP leader Rajendra Prasad Singh, RJDLP leader Annapurna Devi, Independent MLAs Geeta Koda, wife of former CM Madhu Koda and Bidesh Singh and Jharkhand Jandhikar Manch MLA Bandhu Tirkey. On Monday, JMM general secretary Vinod Pandey had said the party would likely stake claim to form the ninth coalition government on Tuesday with the required majority.