JMM chief Shibu Soren treats him as his apprentice. Arjun Munda began his political innings as an ordinary member of the JMM to become its MLA for the first time in 1995. But the 42-year-old Munda has played a longer innings at the top than his ?Guruji?.

Though Munda and Soren have each ascended to the chief ministerial chair thrice, Soren has held this post for only 390 days, as against Munda who had been CM for 783 days when he ended his second innings as the CM on September 18, 2008. And unlike Soren, Munda has been politically mobile.

Munda quit the JMM to join the BJP in 2000. Ever since, he has been in that party, representing Kharsawan in the state assembly thrice to become the BJP?s national general secretary and its MP from Jamshedpur in 2009.

Although under his leadership, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Jharkhand assembly, bagging 33 of 81 seats in 2005, the then Governor Syed Sibtey Razi invited Soren to form the government on March 2, 2005. Nine days later when Soren failed to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly, Munda succeeded him on March 12.

Munda is a prot?g? of former party president Rajnath Singh in the BJP, and a bitter critic of the party?s state president and former deputy CM Raghuwar Das. Munda has proved to be a shrewd politician who chooses his battles well.

And yet, what pulled the rug from under his feet came like a sudden storm. Seven Independent MLAs led by Madhu Koda toppled Munda?s government on September 18, 2008.

On August 27, 2008, Soren did a Koda by withdrawing support to his government and became CM for the second time with the support of the Congress, RJD and Independents. After he lost the assembly by-poll, his government fell and President?s rule returned.

Less than a year later, after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured mandate, Soren with the backing of the BJP, the All Jharkhand Students Union and the JD(U) was sworn in as CM for the third time on December 12, 2009 with Das as one of two deputy CMs. But again since the JMM chief failed to get elected as MLA, his government fell and President?s Rule was re-imposed on June 1.

To complete the present assembly?s remaining term that ends in 2014, Munda must retain the magic figure. Today, he commands the support of 45 MLAs (BJP 18, JMM 18, JD(U) 2, AJSU 5 and Independent 2) in a House of 81.