Patna, Sept. 7: The jigsaw puzzle of Jharkhand’s politics came together as before when the BJP and the JMM rejoined hands on Tuesday to form a government under the BJP’s leadership three months after the two parties had bitterly parted ways and forced the Centre to impose President’s Rule in the state.
The former chief minister, Mr Arjun Munda, currently a BJP MP from Jamshedpur and a party national vice-president, staked claim to form a government by meeting the Governor, Mr M.O.H. Farooq, at noon Tuesday.
Mr Munda submitted to Mr Farooq a list of 45 MLAs willing to support his government and was accompanied by 44 MLAs — 18 each from the BJP and the JMM, and five from the AJSU.
With the Governor having reportedly recommended revocation of President’s Rule on Tuesday evening, Mr Munda is set to be the chief minister of Jharkhand for the third time.
Sources said the governor consulted legal experts and verified the signatures of the MLAs in the list submitted by Mr Munda before sending his recommendation to the Centre.