Shibu Soren asked to prove majority by May 31

Ranchi, May 24: BJP today withdrew its support to the nearly five-month-old JMM-led government in Jharkhand reducing it to a minority, following which Chief Minister Shibu Soren was asked by the Governor to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly by May 31.

Soren was summoned by Governor M O H Farooq this evening after BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Raghuvar Das handed over a letter withdrawing his party’s support to the government, Raj Bhavan said. He has been given a week’s time to prove his strength in the House.

With 14 MLAs, Congress saw a possible role in the formation of a stable government. “We are watching the developments. We are putting our minds together to save Jharkhand from collapse,” Congress in-charge for the state K Keshav Rao told reporters in New Delhi.

–Agencies