BJP to decide on Jharkhand govt formation on Tues

The Bharatiya Janata Party has sought time till Tuesday from Jharkhand Governor M O H Farooq on the possibility of forming the government after the resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren on Sunday night.

BJP state president Raghuvar Das, who met the governor twice on Monday morning, told reporters that Farooq asked him whether his party was interested in government formation.

Das, who was the deputy chief minister in the Soren government, said that he will consult leaders and MLAs at 6 pm and place the governor's proposal before them.

"The governor will be informed about whatever decision is taken," he said.

Das added, "All MLAs and leaders are united and will follow the directive of the central leadership."

The BJP has 18 MLAs in the 82-member House. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has an equal number of legislators.

The All Jharkhand Student's Union with five MLAs and the Janata Dal - United with two had supported the Soren government. The JD-U and the BJP had withdrawn support to the government, reducing it to a minority.