JMM seeks time to form government in Jharkhand

Hemant Soren returned here Friday night after meeting Congress leaders in Delhi. He said that the Congress would decide about the formation of an alternative government.

The 28-month Bharatiya Janata Party-led Arjun Munda government fell after JMM withdrew support Jan 8. The Munda cabinet had recommended dissolution of the state assembly.

Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) delegations also separately met the governor and requested not to accept the cabinet's decision to dissolve the assembly.

"We requested the governor to consider it if JMM stakes claim to form the government. We will inform him (governor) after talking to central leaders. We do not want president's rule in the state," Congress legislative party leader Rajendra Singh told reporters after the meeting.

RJD legislative party leader Annapurna Devi also met the governor and requested him not to dissolve the house. "We requested him to explore possibilities of formation of the government in the state," she said.

JMM has been exploring the possibility of forming a government in the state with Congress backing.