Guv promised to end stalemate in 2 days: Delegation
At a time when more than half of its MLAs are camping in Chhattisgarh fearing poaching attempts in Jharkhand, a delegation of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on Thursday met Governor Ramesh Bais at Raj Bhawan urging him to clear confusion over the Election Commission’s letter on Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s office of profit case.
According to a press release from Raj Bhawan, the Governor assured the delegation to take appropriate action on the issue “soon”.
The delegation, which included Congress MPs Dheeraj Sahu and Geeta Koda, JMM MPs Vijay Hansda and Mahua Maji, former MLA Bandhu Tirkey, and other leaders of the JMM and the RJD, submitted a memorandum to the Governor stating that the media reports on disqualification of Soren’s membership of House are creating confusion and anarchy in the State.
The UPA members said that the situation arising out of unconfirmed media reports and the BJP leaders’ statements demanding resignation of Soren is disturbing the day-to-day functioning and administration of the Government.
They also said that disqualification of Soren will not affect the Government in the State as the ruling coalition has enough number of MLAs to prove majority in the House.
The delegation urged the Governor, being the Constitutional head of the State, to end the confusion by making public the Election Commission’s opinion (if any) on the office of profit case against Soren.
Working president of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee Tirkey said the Governor has assured to end the stalemate by making the issue clear within two days.
He further said that the UPA will reveal its strategy as per the need and situation in the coming days.
Notably, this is for the first time after a week that the Governor confirmed receiving the letter from EC as there was no official word from the Raj Bhawan or the EC about the letter and its intent since the matter was reported a week back by the media.
On August 25, when the Governor was in Delhi, media reports suggested that the EC had sent its decision on the office of profit case against Soren to the Governor and had recommended disqualification of the Chief Minister from the membership of the Legislative Assembly.
However, the Governor feigned ignorance about the letter upon his arrival in Ranchi.
On the basis of media reports and resultant political developments, the UPA MLAs were called for meeting at CM’s residence on a day to day basis.
Later, they were taken on a picnic near Ranchi, and on August 30 as many as 32 MLAs, including Ministers were flown to Chhattisgarh Capital, Raipur, in a special flight.
On August 31 another flight with legislators landed in Raipur and the Congress Ministers of the ruling coalition returned to Ranchi for the Cabinet meeting that took place in Ranchi on Thursday.
The State Cabinet on Thursday gave nod to a proposal for calling a special one-day Assembly Session on September 5, where some important Bills would be passed.
According to sources, CM Soren may also prove majority on the day in adverse conditions.