BJP withdraws support to Soren Government for 'betrayal' - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday withdrew its support for Shibu Soren's Government in Jharkhand for voting against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s cut motion. The BJP took a final call on ties with Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) at its Parliamentary Board meeting held here today. "We are withdrawing support from the government in Jharkhand. Deputy Chief Minister Raghuvar Das would be reaching Ranchi today and handing over the withdrawal letter to the Governor," said BJP General Secretary Anant Kumar after the Parliamentary Board meeting. "All BJP ministers would resign with immediate effect," he added. The BJP was reportedly upset with Soren for he voted with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government on the cut motion. Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu had earlier this morning said the party would take a final call on ties with Soren at the meeting. "How can one ally claim he voted for the UPA by mistake," said Naidu. Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on December 30, 2009 for the third time. He had formed the government with a five-party coalition. Soren had secured the support of 44 MLAs in the 81-member House after the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave a fractured verdict. The JMM had 18 seats, BJP had 18 seats, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) had two seats, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) had five seats and Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) had one seat in the assembly. The Congress has 18 seats in the assembly.