RANCHI: Jharkhand opposition BJP on Saturday asked the Hemant Soren government to quit and make way for midterm polls, while JMM allies rallied behind the CM and said the Election Commission’s verdict on him won’t affect the coalition government.
With the EC verdict in the office-of-profit case yet to be officially out, political opponents spent time throwing shadow punches. A BJP spokesperson said the party is closely watching the unfolding developments. “Our party leadership has asked us to ensure that BJP shouldn’t be seen as the one trying to topple the government.”
Another BJP member said: “Raj Bhavan is taking legal opinion on ways to explore the subject of debarring the CM from contesting immediate polls. Written opinion was also sought from Tushar Mehta, the solicitor general of India.”
All these were happening amid speculation that EC had recommended Soren’s disqualification as an MLA on charges of holding a mining lease while in office.
JMM ally Congress sent a letter Friday night to the speaker to exercise anti-defection laws and terminate assembly membership of its three suspended MLAs — Irfan Ansari (Jamtara), Naman Bixal Kongari (Kolebira) and Rajesh Kachchap (Khijri). This move has made BJP more cautious, a party insider said. “The coalition government is trying to bring down the strength of the House from the current 81 to 77. By doing so, the magic figure to sail through a floor test will become 39 and the Soren government will get it, in the event of the EC verdict becoming public,” he said.
Coalition partner RJD was confident that the EC judgment would have little impact on the government. The party’s state president Sanjay Singh Yadav said: “Whatever the EC decision is, the mahagathbandhan has the required number of MLAs to remain in power.”
With the EC verdict in the office-of-profit case yet to be officially out, political opponents spent time throwing shadow punches. A BJP spokesperson said the party is closely watching the unfolding developments. “Our party leadership has asked us to ensure that BJP shouldn’t be seen as the one trying to topple the government.”
Another BJP member said: “Raj Bhavan is taking legal opinion on ways to explore the subject of debarring the CM from contesting immediate polls. Written opinion was also sought from Tushar Mehta, the solicitor general of India.”
All these were happening amid speculation that EC had recommended Soren’s disqualification as an MLA on charges of holding a mining lease while in office.
JMM ally Congress sent a letter Friday night to the speaker to exercise anti-defection laws and terminate assembly membership of its three suspended MLAs — Irfan Ansari (Jamtara), Naman Bixal Kongari (Kolebira) and Rajesh Kachchap (Khijri). This move has made BJP more cautious, a party insider said. “The coalition government is trying to bring down the strength of the House from the current 81 to 77. By doing so, the magic figure to sail through a floor test will become 39 and the Soren government will get it, in the event of the EC verdict becoming public,” he said.
Coalition partner RJD was confident that the EC judgment would have little impact on the government. The party’s state president Sanjay Singh Yadav said: “Whatever the EC decision is, the mahagathbandhan has the required number of MLAs to remain in power.”