Ranchi
The stage is set for the crucial floor test for the new Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, leading the JMM-led ruling alliance after his predecessor Hemant Soren was arrested and is in ED custody in an alleged money laundering case linked to a land scam.
As many as 39 MLAs belonging to the JMM, Congress and RJD who were taken away to Congress-ruled Telangana and kept in a resort in Hyderabad would return tonight ahead of the voting in the Jharkhand Assembly at 11 am on Monday (February 5).
Interestingly, while the Jharkhand MLAs were leaving Hyderabad, as many as 16 Congress MLAs from Bihar landed in the Telangana capital ahead of the February 12 floor test there following Nitish Kumar switching sides to the NDA yet again.
Champai alongwith Congress’ Alamgir Alam and RJD’s Satynand Bhokta were sworn-in on February 2.
The JMM (28), Congress (16), Rashtriya Janata Dal (1), and Communist Party of India (ML) (1) have a total of 46 MLAs — five more than the majority mark of 41. Since one of the 81 seats is vacant, the majority mark is 41 when counted for 80 seats.
The ED court has also allowed Hemant Soren to cast his vote even as the Jharkhand High Court will take up hearing on his plea challenging his arrest by the ED. Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain his petition making the same plea.
The BJP along with allies AJSU and Ajit Pawar-led NCP only have 29 MLAs. Unless some major change of equations happens, there is no threat to the ruling alliance.
But the JMM-led partners haven’t taken any chances especially since there have always been a buzz about MLAs from its side switching over to the BJP-led alliance ever since the Hemant Soren government was formed in 2019.
The alliance has it concerns since at least 3 JMM MLAs have been voicing their different opinions publicly. While Lobin Hembrom has been staunchly criticising Hemant Soren for “neglecting” tribals’ welfare, Hemant’s sister-in-law Sita Soren has always kept a distance and went public opposing any move to appoint Hemant’s wife Kalpana Soren as his successor. Another legislator Chamra Linda too remains untraceable. He too has accused Hemant of ignoring tribals’ interests.
But Hemant’s younger brother and JMM MLA, Basant Soren, has apparently pacified them and has claimed that the three would come for voting. He asserted the ruling alliance has 47 MLAs on its side.
