As the political upheaval in Jharkhand continues, Chief Minister Hemant Soren met with state Congress incharge Avinash Pande. The two leaders are believed to have discussed the coalition government’s future course of action during the hour long meeting at the state guest house. Earlier on Saturday night, the Congress Legislative Party had held a meeting to deliberate on strategy for further course of action.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren had called a meeting of the state’s ruling UPA coalition members on Saturday amidst speculation about his possible disqualification as an MLA in the state assembly for allegedly violating poll norms by extending himself a mining lease. This was the third meeting in two days and several MLAs were seen arriving for the meeting with luggage in tow.
“It is Governor Ramesh Bais who can answer this better,” Soren said upon being asked about the delay in Governor’s decision over the Chief Minister’s post. In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, the ruling alliance has 30 MLAs of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, 18 MLAs of the Congress and one MLA of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
The BJP has sought the disqualification of Soren as an MLA accusing him of allocating a mining lease to himself while he held the portfolio of Mines Minister in 2021. Despite murmurs about a brewing crisis, coalition leaders continue to insist that there is “no problem” in their ranks.
“MLAs, ministers and workers met and kept their viewpoints in yesterday’s meeting. No talk on government’s crisis was held. There is no problem anywhere. There is delay from Governor, will request him to make decisions public without delay,” Jharkhand Congress President Rajesh Thakur said today.
On Friday MLAs of the ruling coalition had assured Soren of their support.
