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Political uncertainty continues in Jharkhand

The over half-a-century-old movement for political identity awaits culmination in the birth of Jharkhand at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday even as political uncertainty continues over who will form the first government in the state.

The two rival formations for power, the National Democratic Alliance and groups led by Shibu Soren, have stepped up efforts to mobilise the support of MLAs for a majority in the 81-member state assembly to stake the claim to form the government after the swearing-in of Governor Prabhat Kumar.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (Soren) chief Soren, in his bid for the chief minister's seat, has claimed to have enlisted the support of 36 MLAs -- Congress (11), Rashtriya Janata Dal (9), Communist Party of India (2), Marxist Co-ordination Committee (1) and Communist Party of India, Marxist-Leninist, (1), besides 12 of his own, and is confident of mustering the support of five more MLAs to get to the magic figure of 41 for a simple majority.

Soren said independent MLAs Samresh Singh and Madho Lal Singh had already decided to side with him.

The MLAs supporting Soren's candidature for chief ministership are likely to hold a meeting in Ranchi on Tuesday in the presence of senior Congress politicians and RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav.

The NDA has the support of 40 MLAs, one short of a majority. The alliance is also banking on the support of independent MLAs like Sudesh Mahato and Jobha Majhi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has the largest number of 32 MLAs, besides five of the Samata Party and three of the Janata Dal, United.

In a bid to engineer a split in the BJP, Soren on Monday offered to extend support to BJP vice-president Karia Munda if he left his party and joined him in forming the government.

"Munda has been badly insulted and harassed by the BJP leadership on the issue of chief ministership, Munda should leave the communal party and join hands with us to form a secular government," Soren told reporters.

He said he had spoken on telephone to Munda, who is in New Delhi, and asked him to accept the offer. "I am still waiting for a positive response from him".

Meanwhile, the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Babulal Marandi, who arrived in Ranchi to a tumultuous welcome on Sunday, urged Soren to "reconsider" his decision and "part company with anti-Jharkhand parties".

Soren said he took serious exception to Director General of Police F M Kaire meeting Marandi at the Circuit House on Monday morning. "The entire Circuit House has been turned into the official residence of the chief minister, where Marandi is dictating terms to officials," Soren alleged.

Marandi, however, said there was nothing wrong in political leaders meeting officials.

While confusion thus persists over the formation of the government, final touches are being given to preparations for the swearing-in ceremony of the governor.

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