With no official communication either from the Election Commission of India (ECI) or the Governor House on the decision to disqualify Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s membership to the Assembly for holding an office of profit in connection with a mining lease case, Soren organised a gala event for four dozen MLAs in Khunti district on Saturday.
The ECI has found Jharkhand CM and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Soren violating electoral norms by extending a mining lease to himself following which it recommendated his disqualification as an MLA.
Rajya Sabha member Mahua Maji said MLAs going to picnic together was a simple exercise to keep the flock together in the wake of “Operation Lotus” of the BJP across the country.
“Precautionary measures are being taken by us in the wake of Operation Lotus being carried out all over the country. It is very difficult to sit at one place for a long time, therefore, the MLAs have been taken for an outing,” said Maji.
However, sources in the ruling coalition hinted that the MLAs may be taken to the Capital of Chhattisgarh, Raipur, where all arrangements have been made for the stay of the legislators in case any adverse situation comes before the Government.
It would stop the BJP from attempting horse trading in Jharkhand, they said.
However, till the time of the paper going to the Press, no such development was reported from the State.
Meanwhile, sources said a notification regarding disqualification of Soren may be issued by Governor Ramesh Bais on Monday.
It was on August 25 when, according to media reports, the Governor had received a sealed envelope from the poll body, triggering political speculation in the State.
Since then fate of the Soren Government has been hanging in the balance.
But looking at Saturday’s development of holding picnic, it appears that the CM and his MLAs are not worried with the latest development putting up a defiant face, saying there is no threat to the Government.
The CM along with some legislators and their kin also enjoyed boating at the lake, which is a picturesque site for locals to organise picnics and get-together.
They did not miss photo opportunities with each other on the occasion. Locals said Khunti Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police were already present at the guest house, where a mutton party was organised for the legislators.
After spending about three hours at the guest house, the MLAs returned to the CM residence where another meeting was taking place at the time of filing of this report. State Congress in-charge, Avinash Pandey, has also reached Ranchi and is attending the meeting.
Terming the developments in Jharkhand “unfortunate” , Pandey said the UPA fold is intact and there was no threat to the Government. Reinstating faith in the Soren-led Government, he said there were constant efforts to disturb the State Government in Jharkhand. He also termed today’s picnic of MLAs as a confidence building exercise for the legislators.
Earlier in the day, MLAs from the JMM-Congress-RJD combine started gathering at the Chief Minister’s official residence in the forenoon on Saturday. Although they tried to do it secretly, the MLAs were spotted with bags in their vehicles, further fuelling suspicion that they were being taken out of State.
After a brief meeting at the CM residence, the MLAs were seen inside three luxury buses that left from the back door of the official residence of Soren. First it was assumed that the MLAs were being taken to a resort in Chhattisgarh, but later the convoy with three buses and huge security cover reached Latratu Dam in Khunti district about 35 kilometers from the Capital city.
Although security persons tried their best to stop media persons reaching a Government guest house beside the lake, a large number of media persons reached near the guest house. The MLAs and Soren were also seen at the guest house talking to each other and occasionally waving to people and media persons.