Soren said after his meeting with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad in New Delhi that the Railway Minister had not only promised his party’s backing but also assured him help in securing the support of independents.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary Hemlal Murmu was with Soren when he met Prasad.

The development is expected to help Soren in a big way as Congress has already assured him support.

“We are behind Soren like a rock. Not only will our (nine) MLAs support him on the floor of the House but we will also make efforts to make him the chief minister,” AICC secretary Abdul Manan had said in Ranchi on Wednesday.

Two suspended BJP MLAs -- Vishnu Bhayya and Manohar Tekriwal -- have also favoured the JMM leader’s bid for chief ministership.