In a boost to the National Democratic Alliance's claim to form the government in Jharkhand, five independent members of Legislative Assembly met Governor Syed Sibtey Razi and expressed support to the alliance.
The MLAs are Sudesh Mahato, Chandra Prakash Chowdhary, Hari Narain Rai, Enos Ekka and Madhu Kora.
"We have all told the governor that we are supporting the NDA and there is no pressure on us from any part to give our support. The NDA should be invited to form the government," Mahato told reporters immediately after coming out of the Raj Bhavan. He also claimed that the governor was satisfied with their assurance.
The NDA had on Tuesday submitted a list of 41 MLAs to the governor. Besides its 36 MLAs - 30 of Bharatiya Janata Party and six of the Janata Dal (United), the alliance had also produced before Razi the letters of support of the five Independents.
The governor said he wanted to meet all the 12 Independents elected to the assembly before taking a decision.
NDA leaders criticised the governor for not inviting the alliance to form the government even after the list was submitted,
The governor's move had come after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance also staked claim to form the government with a list of 41 MLAs.
Meanwhile, the governor has asked the administration to provide adequate security to the newly elected Independent MLAs.
The governor ordered that the security around the Independents, especially Enos Ekka of the Jharkhand Party and Hari Narain Rai, whose names apparently figured in the lists submitted by both the United Progressive Alliance and the NDA, be beefed up, sources in Ranchi said.
Senior Congress leader and Union Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi alleged on Tuesday night that Ekka had been taken away by the NDA, against the wishes of Jharkhand Party president N E Horo.
Unhappy with the governor's decision to 'interview' the 12 Independents, the NDA had charged the governor with adopting 'delaying tactics'.
Meanwhile, the UPA was at pains to convince Jharkhand Mukti Morcha rebel Stephen Marandi to accept party chief and Union Coal Minister Shibu Soren as the UPA's chief ministerial candidate.
Marandi, who was not in the UPA delegation that met the governor on Tuesday night, reportedly said though he had differences with Soren, he would support the secular forces.