Munda may be invited to form government Wednesday evening

RANCHI - Jharkhand Governor M.O.H. Farook is likely to invite Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Arjun Munda to form government in the state after getting the green signal from New Delhi, sources here said.

Farook Tuesday night sent a report to the union home ministry, recommending that President’s Rule be lifted and detailing the political situation. He is also learnt to have sent a list of legislators supporting a BJP-led government led by Munda after being asked to.

The BJP Tuesday staked claim to form a government with the backing of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and with Munda as the new chief minister. Jharkhand has been under President’s Rule since June 2.

Munda handed over to the governor a letter of support of 45 legislators in the 81-member assembly.

According to informed sources, the home ministry’s consent to the governor to invite Munda to form government was expected by Wednesday evening.

The union cabinet will also have to meet to approve lifting of President’s Rule and pave the way for formation of the new government, an official said.

Munda may take oath as chief minister, for a second time, on Sep 11, party insiders said.

The BJP and the JMM have joined hands again, just three months after their coalition fell apart.

Elections to the state assembly were held in November-December last year, and Shibu Soren became the chief minister Dec 30.

However, Soren quit May 30 after the BJP withdrew its support in protest after he voted in favour of the ruling Congress party in April against the BJP-sponsored cut motions in parliament.

A chastened JMM initially agreed to prop up the BJP but backtracked, leading to President’s Rule. With neighbouring Bihar set for elections in October-November, the BJP and the JMM have decided to team up again.