Shibu Soren's aggressive campaign to become the next Jharkhand Chief Minister appeared to be gaining strength on Thursday with JMM claiming that he has got the backing of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and others in the UPA.

JMM also claimed that Chief Minister Madhu Koda was being called to Delhi, apparently in an attempt to make him resign and avoid a trial of strength in the Assembly on August 25.

Soren on Thursday met Sonia Gandhi, also the Chairperson of UPA, to seek the support of her party, which has nine MLAs in the Assembly and the backing of other constituents including RJD, which has seven MLAs, and NCP with one legislator.

There was no official word from Congress but Lalu Prasad appeared to play a waiting game when he denied meeting Soren. Lalu is said to be unhappy over Soren's claim that RJD would support him.

Soren did not speak to reporters after meeting Gandhi, which climaxed a hectic day of consultations in the UPA which grappled by the issue.

JMM General Secretary Dilip Chatterjee said from Ranchi, "Congress has given us the green signal and summoned Chief Minister Madhu Koda to Delhi. He is going there tomorrow and we are now confident that Soren can take oath any day."

At the AICC briefing earlier, party spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan said talks were on and "I think that something will be announced today."

Union Minister Ajay Maken, who is in-charge of Congress affairs in Jharkhand had merely said, "We are all discussing among ourselves and everybody will have the same stand. What ever decision is taken will be a collective one."

The JMM chief's meeting with Gandhi came soon after UPA leaders including RJD chief Lalu Prasad discussed the issue with Gandhi.

Thursday’s meeting between Soren and Gandhi took place at the latter's residence after senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee held talks with Prasad and Maken.

Prasad and Maken reiterated their stand over supporting Soren's claim to Chief ministership if he has the numbers to form the government.

The spate of meetings began after Soren addressed a press conference in the morning claiming that he has met Prasad in the wee hours and has assured support to him.

Interestingly, the claim was quickly denied by Prasad, who said, "no meeting took place".

"We are behind Soren like a rock. Not only will our (nine) MLAs support him on the floor of the House but we will also make efforts to make him the chief minister," AICC secretary Abdul Manan had said in Ranchi yesterday.

Meanwhile in a clear cut hint of differences in opinions among the Independent ministers of Jharkhand, Education Minister of the state, Bandhu Tirki, arrived at Soren's residence here today evening.

Speculation is rife about another independent minister of Koda government also ready to support Soren. Two suspended BJP MLAs - Vishnu Bhayya and Manohar Tekriwal - have also favoured the JMM leader's bid for chief ministership.

Earlier in the day, Soren had claimed that the UPA by supporting his candidature for the Chief Ministership has in a way withdrawn support from the Madhu Koda government. At the same time, he had admitted that some issues are yet to be thrashed out.

"It's almost complete, but few things remain to be sorted out," Soren had said.