Koda meets Sonia, keeps cards close to chest

LOSING POWER: Koda also met Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad earlier in the morning.

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New Delhi: After an over-hour long meeting with United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi here Friday evening, Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda said he would announce his decision on Saturday on whether he would step down to make way for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo Shibu Soren.

"I'll announce my decision tomorrow," was all Koda was willing to tell reporters after he emerged from the 10 Janpath residence of the UPA chairperson.

He met Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad earlier in the morning on landing here from Ranchi.

According to sources, Koda is likely to step down on Saturday.

Soren is likely to manage the numbers for the Jharkhand chief minister's post with the Congress and the RJD lending their support.

Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said: "We are trying for a secular government in Jharkhand to keep communal forces at bay."

Meanwhile, source at the Congress party headquarters said many members of the state legislature are not in favour of president's rule.

The 23-month-old Koda government was reduced to a minority in the state assembly Sunday after the JMM withdrew support. In the 82-member house, Koda now has the support of only 25 legislators.