The MLAs—including ministers Nalin Soren, Dulal Bhuinya and Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahato—led by party president Shibu Soren met Governor Syed Sibtey Razi at Raj Bhawan and handed over their letter withdrawing support to Koda. The three ministers also resigned from the Cabinet.

The decision was taken unanimously at a meeting of the JMM Central Committee, the highest decision making body of the party.

The meeting, presided over by Soren, was attended by all 17 MLAs and three of the party’s five MPs. The two absentees, MPs Suman Mahato and Sudam Marandi, were said to be unwell.

With this, the strength of the UPA Government in the state has been reduced to 25, 16 short of a simple majority in the 82-member House. Although Soren did not stake claim to form the Government, he told Razi to explore ways to set up an alternative Government.

But Razi did not make any commitment. “I will act as per provisions of the Constitution,” the Governor said.

Koda, too, seems to be in no mood to quit. The Chief Minister remained holed up in his bungalow, holding meetings with Cabinet colleagues Stephen Marandi, Enos Ekka, Hari Narain Rai, Kamlesh Singh and Joba Manjhi, who are still backing him. “The UPA leadership will meet and I will go by its decision,” said Koda. Marandi said none of his Independent colleagues were ready to support Soren as CM. “Now, we will wait and watch,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the JMM camp, efforts were on to win over some of the Independents as well as Kunti Singh and Manohar Tekriwal from the JVM. Soren, who firmly believes the Congress and the RJD will ultimately back him, is also waiting for a call from the UPA leadership. “The Koda Government had done nothing. Had we not withdrawn support, the people would not have forgiven us,” he said.