Ranchi, Sep 7 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) joined hands to stake claim to form the government in Jharkhand, with Arjun Munda being chosen the BJP legislative party leader Tuesday so as to become chief minister.

The parties will meet Governor M.O.H. Farook at 1 p.m. to stake claim. Jharkhand has been under President's Rule since June 1 after Shibu Soren resigned May 30.

'Arjun Munda has been elected party leader and now we will go to the governor to stake claim to form the government,' said BJP state president Raghubar Das.

According to sources in the BJP, the JMM and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) have extended support to the party to form the government in the state. In the 81-member assembly, the BJP and JMM have 18 seats each and the AJSU five.

The Janata Dal-United's (JD-U) two legislators and two independents, according to the sources, have also extended support to the BJP, giving it the backing of 45 legislators.