Amid poaching fears, Jharkand CM Hemant Soren spends a day bonding with ruling MLAs

Earlier, in the day, some MLAs were seen at the CM's house with luggage, who boarded buses and left for an unknown destination, media reports said.

It was also reported that Congress and Hemant Soren's party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) could be shifting their MLAs to "friendly states" like West Bengal or Chhattisgarh.

But, before packing them off to a loaction out of the state, Congress and JMM decided to shift their MLAs to Khunti in Volvo buses, but the exact location remained unknown.

Later, images of Soren taking selfies with smiling MLAs in the background emerged on social media, in a bid to show off that the support of the ruling legislators was intact.

Some time after, pictures showed the troubled CM taking a boat ride along with JMM and Congress MLAs near the Latratu dam in the Khunti district.

Soren appeared to be enjoying the outing away from the state capital, unfazed by the deepening political crisis as several reports said that his disqualification as an MLA was almost certain.

By evening, media reports said that Jharkhand Governor’s order on CM Hemant Soren’s disqualification is not likely before Monday.

Around 8: 30 pm Soren and the MLAs returned to Ranchi in three Volvo buses.

Meanwhile, India Today reported that security at the Mayfair Hotel in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur was heightened as the Jharkhand MLAs were likely to reach by Sunday morning; rooms were being vacated for their stay. It added that no new room bookings were being taken, hotel authorities said.

Soren held at least three rounds of marathon meetings with the MLAs since the rumours of his likely disqualification started doing rounds.

The ruling coalition has 49 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly.

The JMM, the largest party, has 30 MLAs, the Congress 18 legislators, and Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) one.

BJP had accused Soren of acquiring a mining lease that is equivalent to holding an "office of profit" and sought his disqualification on the grounds. Alleging violation of Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act, BJP approached the Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais, who in turn forwarded it to the Election Commission as required under Article 192 of the Constitution.

In order to remain the chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren will have to resign, contest by-poll, get reelected as an MLA, and ensure that the MLAs of the alliance nominate him as the CM.

Therefore it is important that none of the MLAs defect to the opposition and the majority of the MLAs remain in the Grand Alliance coalition.

Meanwhile, Congress, the junior ally of Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the Grand Alliance government is confident that there is no danger to the coalition government.

Earlier, media reports said that Alamgir Alam, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, said the alliance government has the requisite numbers to stay in power in any case.

He had met the CM and they were working on their strategy.

Alam also ruled out any question of fresh elections or a new face as CM as the alliance had enough numbers to be in power and the partners wanted Hemant Soren to continue.

However,  BJP said it was confident that its plea had succeeded and sought mid-term polls on "moral grounds".

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said the assembly should be dissolved and elections should be held in all 81 constituencies.