Explained | Hemant Soren and the Jharkhand political crisis

Besides the prospect of disqualification as an MLA, Chief Minister Hemant Soren faces two PILs in the Jharkhand High Court relating to corruption and money laundering 

The story so far: The political crisis in Jharkhand intensified further on Tuesday, August 30, as the ruling United Progressive Alliance shifted as many as 31 MLAs to the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh to avoid any attempt by the Opposition BJP to poach its legislators in the State.

Uncertainty looms large in the State as Jharkhand Mukti Morcha head and Chief Minister Hemant Soren faces the possibility of disqualification as an MLA for alleged violation of electoral laws, which could decide the fate of his ruling government. The Governor of the State is yet to reveal his decision on the disqualification.

While Mr. Soren has said that “nothing untoward” is going to happen and his coalition is ready to face any situation, he has been making attempts to keep his flock together, from holding marathon meetings to ferrying 39 UPA MLAs on a boat ride to a guest house in Khunti district on August 27 to come back to Ranchi later that day.

In February this year, BJP leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das had alleged that Mr. Soren misused his office by allocating a stone quarrying lease on government land to himself while he was the Minister-in-charge of mines in 2021.

Mr. Das alleged that Mr. Soren allotted to himself a mining lease for a stone quarry in a 0.88-acre land parcel in the Angara Block of Ranchi.

The BJP complained to the State’s Governor Ramesh Bais on February 11 that this act was in violation of Section 9(A) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The 1951 Act lays down the rules for the conduct of elections in the Parliament or in State Assemblies and also about the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of the Houses and Assemblies. Section 9(A) provides that a government representative should be disqualified if there exists a contract entered into by him with the government for the supply of goods to, or for the execution of any works undertaken by that Government.