Shibu Soren says he might talk to Koda

RANCHI: Barely hours after Madhu Koda's resignation from the Jharkhand CM's chair, JMM president Shibu Soren said he would not mind having a dialogue with the six independent MLAs, including Koda, before staking claim to form a ministry.

"I will meet every one before taking a decision," Soren said when asked when he would stake claim.

"I just said yes when somebody asked me. But the date is not decided as yet," he said when his attention was drawn to reports that he would stake his claim on August 25.

Stating that he would also speak to other UPA allies, Soren said in the past he had taken them along with him and in future also he would take them alongside.

On the independent MLAs, including Koda, Soren said "Quarrel takes place even in a family. A father and a son also sometimes engage in arguments. Does it mean the end of the world ?"

Accompanied by independent MLAs--Stephen Marandi, Chandraprakash Choudhary, Joba Manjhi, Bhanu Pratap Sahi and Harinarain Rai (all were ministers in the Koda cabinet), Koda put in his papers with the governor this evening.

Later, speaking to newsmen, Koda ruled out supporting the JMM or joining any alternative government. Stephen Marandi was also of the same opinion.