The Shibu Soren led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) withdrew its support to the 23 month-old Madhu Koda led government in Jharkhand on Sunday, August 17, reducing it to a minority. The JMM did so in order to get its demand of Shibu Soren being appointed as the Jharkhand chief minister fulfilled.

The JMM had warned on August 12 that it will withdraw support to the Koda government if Shibu Soren was not made to replace Madhu Koda as the chief minister. The JMM chief therefore handed Governor Syed Sibtey Razi the letter of withdrawal of support after a day of incisive discussions in the party.

Three of the five JMM MPs and all 17 MLAs of the party accompanied Shibu Soren on this occasion. The Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda responded that a solution to this crisis will soon be delved out, for which he would consult the UPA’s central leadership.