Jharkhand political crisis | CM Hemant Soren, ruling UPA MLAs leave for unknown destination on three buses

Party sources in JMM said the MLAs are not moving out of Jharkhand but they would remain in the State, around Khunti, some 40KM from Ranchi.

In the midst of deepening political crisis in Jharkhand, the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) legislators have moved out from Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s official residence for an unknown destination, on three buses. Mr. Soren is also with them.

The three buses were occupied by the legislators of the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD coalition and guarded by security personnel.

Party sources in Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) said the MLAs are moving to a guest house of Latratu dam in Khunti district, some 40 km from Ranchi, the State capital. Some JMM leaders termed the moving out together from Ranchi as “weekend tour”.

Governor Ramesh Bais is likely to send the disqualification order of Mr. Soren as an MLA to the Election Commission of India on August 27, Raj Bhavan sources said. 

Editorial | Shadow over Soren: On uncertainty over Jharkhand CM continuation

The development took place soon after a marathon third round of a meeting of legislators of the ruling alliance at the Chief Minister’s residence to chalk out a strategy to deal with the emerging scenario. The ruling MLAs took part in the meeting along with their luggage.

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 in 2021. The Governor had forwarded a complaint in this regard by BJP MLAs to the EC.