As Governor Ramesh Bais kept everybody guessing on the Election Commission’s report on Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s office-of-profit case, on Friday there were claims and counter claims from both the ruling party side and opposition.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and party spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo have claimed the UPA alliance has the support of only 36 MLAs, while JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya countered the claim made by BJP leaders and said that 16 BJP MLAs are in touch with the JMM.
Currently, the ruling alliance has 49 MLAs (JMM-30, Congress-18, RJD-1), comfortably more than the minimum required strength of 42 MLAs. However, three Congress MLAs involved in the cash seizure case are in Bengal and Congress Legislature Party leader Alamgir Alam earlier today said that if required they will be called to Ranchi.
However, amidst the disqualification sword hanging on Soren the state is heading towards a political crisis. Nishikant Dubey has said that the state is heading towards a constitutional crisis. “Election is not possible in any assembly of Jharkhand within six months because the Election Commission is revising the voter list till January 5. Jharkhand is heading towards a special constitutional crisis,” he tweeted.
Several possibilities and wish lists have surfaced. Dubey has suggested Soren should dissolve the Assembly and call for a mid-term poll on moral grounds. And, Saryu Rai believes the ECI may ban Soren from contesting polls for some years.
Meanwhile, sources said that the office of the Governor of Jharkhand is learnt to be deliberating upon the issue whether Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren obtaining a mining lease in his name is an act of corruption under the definition of Prevention of the Corruption Act.
Well placed sources claimed that the opinion of the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta too has been sought in this matter and meetings have also taken place. It is also being looked into as law prescribes debar from contesting elections for a specific period.
JMM sources said that in case Hemant Soren has to resign owing to his disqualification under section 9A of the People’s Representation Act 1955, he would naturally prefer the Chief Minister’s post to stay within the family hence there are three top names under consideration namely wife Kalpana Soren, father and party patriarch Shibu Soren and mother Rupi Soren. Kalpana Soren is said to be the top contender and the first choice of Hemant Soren for this post. However, the entire UPA will unanimously agree to the name of Shibu Soren who however is ailing.