Jharkhand Transport Minister and the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislative party, Champai Soren, on Thursday met Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan and demanded the process of new government formation should begin at the earliest.
“We have demanded that the process to start the formation of the Government should begin. He (Governor) said that the process will begin soon…,” Soren told reporters after meeting the Governor.
Jharkhand slipped into a political turmoil on Wednesday after Hemant Soren resigned form the post of chief minister and was subsequently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Before his resignation, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance picked Champai Soren as new leader of the legislative party. As soon as Hemant Soren tendered his resignation, Champai Soren staked claim to form government in the state.
He also handed over letter of support from at least 43 MLAs to the Governor and sought time for the swearing-in ceremony.
However, the Governor reportedly told the Champai Soren-led delegation that he will examine the documents submitted by them.
The JMM delegation also reportedly showed a roll-call video of at least 43 MLAs to the Governor and said the delay in new government formation will encourage involvement of other parties.
Apparently refering to the recent swearing-in ceremony of Nitish Kumar as Bihar CM, Soren had said that while he has been waiting for last 15-16 hours, where as oath is administered within two hours of staking claim in other states.
“We are waiting for 15-16 hours whereas oaths are administered within two hours of stake claim and invite in other states,” he said, adding letters of support from 43 MLAs have been given to the governor.
Last week in Bihar, Nitish Kumar had tendered his resignation as the state’s chief minister and formed a new government with support form the BJP. He was administered oath within hours of staking claim to form the government.
The Congress, which is part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand, has accused the Governor of contempt of the Constitution.
“In the House of 81 MLAs, only 41 are majority. Despite having the support of 48 MLAs, not inviting Champai Soren ji to form the government is clearly contempt of the Constitution and denial of public opinion. Nails are being driven one by one into the coffin of Indian democracy by their Excellencies” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.