From correspondents in Jharkhand, India, 07:01 PM IST

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was Sunday set to withdraw support to the Madhu Koda government as it pressed its demand to make its head Shibu Soren chief minister of Jharkhand.

At a party meeting here, its 17 party legislators signed a memorandum withdrawing their support to the Koda government, JMM sources said.

A JMM central committee meeting Sunday evening was to take a final decision on the matter before meeting Governor Syed Sibte Razi at 7 p.m., they said.

Koda, an independent legislator, is backed by the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) apart from smaller parties and independents.

The Congress and the RJD have now expressed support for Soren's move. If the JMM withdraws support from the Koda government, it will be reduced to minority.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)