Jharkhand political crisis
Jharkhand: MLAs reach with bags at CM Hemant Soren's house, leave in buses as political crisis deepens
Ranchi: As uncertainty hit Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his coalition government, some MLAs were seen at the CM's house with luggage, who boarded buses and left for an unknown destination, media reports said.
Congress and Hemant Soren's party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) could be shifting their MLAs to "friendly states" like West Bengal or Chhattisgarh in a bid to ward off poaching attempts, some reports said.
But, NDTV reported citing sources that they were being moved to a location in Khunti, 30 km from Ranchi.
Hemant Soren has been holding emergency meetings of legislators of JMM and other constituents of the Grand Alliance government after reports started emerging that he was likely to be disqualified as the election commission has recommended the same to Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais.
The Governor had referred the matter to the poll panel after BJP alleged that Soren acquired a mining lease misusing his position.
An angry Soren has hit out at the BJP, accusing it of resorting to a variety of tactics to topple his government as they were unable to match the ruling coalition politically. But, he said, people had chosen the current government and no one would be able to stop them from working for the people.
Soren held at least three rounds of meetings with the MLAs, and they had arrived with their bags packed at his residence before they left in buses.
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 cross sides and the majority of the MLAs are 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.
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