Election panel has recommended disqualification of Soren as MLA, say media reports
A“sealed” letter sent by the Election Commission of India to the Governor of Jharkhand on the office of profit case against Chief Minister Hemant Soren suddenly increased the political temperature in the State on Thursday.
Amid unconfirmed media reports that the ECI has recommended disqualification of Soren from the membership of the House, Governor Ramesh Bais told the media at Ranchi airport upon his return from Delhi that he had no idea about the letter and its content.
He said he would be able to comment on the issue only after he went through the letter. The Governor was in Delhi for treatment of his wife at AIIMS Delhi and he returned to Ranchi only in the afternoon. However, even after hours of his arrival, there was no word from the Raj Bhavan on the issue.
Sources said the Governor may take up the matter on Friday and make public the contents of the said letter along with his decision on the issue.
In case Soren is disqualified, he could still hold the office of the CM for six months during which he would be required to get elected to the Assembly. JMM(S) sources said Soren may seek-reelection from the same seat to get public endorsement against the EC’s decision and the BJP’s compaign against him.
In the 2019 Assembly polls, Soren was elected from Barhait and Dumka. He gave up the Dumka seat and retained Barhait. JMM(S) sources said there was no political crisis as the alliance Government held a comfortable majority and Soren would continue to be CM come what may.
In its letter, the ECI is reported to recommended the disqualification of Soren as MLA under Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act. The Act prohibits elected representatives from entering into any contract with the Government for “supply of goods” or “execution of any works undertaken” by it.
The ECI, on the complaints of the BJP that Soren had secured a stone mining lease in Ranchi district in his name, had undertaken detailed hearing of the case and both Soren and the BJP had presented their versions on the issue before the issue.
Ss speculation spread that the ECI has recommended Soren’s disqualification, the CM office stated, “Several media reports about ECI sending a report to the Governor ‘apparently recommending his disqualification as a MLA’. No communication in this regard has been received by CMO from either ECI or Governor.”
The CM said, “It apparently seems that BJP leaders including a BJP MP and his puppet journalists have themselves drafted the ECI report, which is otherwise a sealed cover report. This blatant misuse of Constitutional authorities and public agencies and its complete takeover by BJP HQ in Deendayal Upadhyay Marg in this shameful manner is unseen in Indian Democracy.”
Advocate General of the State and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam visited the CM residence. And soon several JMM leaders and MLAs also gathered at the place.
The State unit of the Congress party also held a meeting at its State headquarters with MLAs, who were available in the city. After the meeting CLP leader Alamgir Alam said there was no imminent threat to the Government in the State in any circumstances.
The JMM also called a press conference and flayed the BJP stating that it is misusing the Constitutional bodies at the Centre to attack opposition parties. JMM General Secretary, Supriyo Bhattacharya also reiterated that there was no threat to the government in the State.
Notably, the JMM-Congress-RJD combine has 48 MLAs in the State, which is a comfortable figure to prove majority in the House. In the 81-member House the magic figure to claim stake for formation of government comes at 42.
