Jharkhand’s BJP government in trouble as JMM withdraws support

The Bhartiya Janata Party government in Jharkhand is in trouble after the Jharkhand Mukhti Morcha, a major ally, withdrew support after talks between the two coalition partners failed today.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda had met Jharkhand Mukti Mocha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren earlier in the day to defuse the crisis over the issue of "rotation of power" between them in the state government.

Munda, who met Soren at his residence for about half an hour, did not speak to the media about what transpired at the meeting.

JMM leader and deputy chief minister Hemant Soren said the decision was "unanimous" and was taken after talking to several BJP leaders, including its Jharkhand affairs in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan.

"After a series of meetings, JMM has decided to withdraw support to the (BJP-led) government," Soren told the media after the party's executive committee meeting.

JMM chief Shibu Soren said the party would hand over a letter conveying its decision to withdraw support to Munda government to Governor Syed Ahmed tomorrow.