Facing disqualification, Jharkhand CM Soren calls meeting of alliance partners

As many as 49 ruling alliance MLAs repose faith in CM

Amid speculation of his disqualification as MLA over a mining lease contract, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday met ruling alliance legislators twice at his official residence, apparently to chalk out a future strategy and send out a message of their unity.

Uncertainty over Mr. Soren’s government arose after the Election Commission (EC) reportedly sent a report recommending his disqualification over allegations that he allocated a mining lease to himself while holding the portfolio of Mines Minister in 2021. The Governor had forwarded a complaint in this regard by BJP MLAs to the EC.

In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, the Soren-led ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has 30 MLAs. Among its allies, Congress has 18, while Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and National Congress Party have one each.

The BJP has 26 MLAs while alliance partner All Jharkhand Students Union has two, with support from two other legislators. The magic number to form the government in the State is 41.

As many as 49 ruling alliance MLAs attended the meeting at Mr. Soren’s official residence and asserted their support for the Chief Minister. “Let the Governor tell us about the recommendation made by the EC and we’ll march to Raj Bhawan in numbers more than what is expected by the media and the Opposition BJP,” said State Congress president Rajesh Thakur.

The ruling party MLAs again met in evening after Mr. Soren came back after attending an official function at Netarhat and reposed their faith in him.

Meanwhile, the buzz in political circles is that the ruling party MLAs could be sent to a resort in Chhattisgarh. “We have learnt resort politics from the BJP,” said JMM legislator Mithilesh Thakur. However, Congress leader and Minister Banna Gupta said, “We don't need to go anywhere. We’re not the BJP”.