The 39 JMM-Congress-RJD alliance MLAs from Jharkhand could not leave Ranchi after their flight failed to take off due to bad weather. The MLAs were being moved to Hyderabad amid fears of poaching.
The state is facing a political turmoil after Hemant Soren’s resignation as chief minister. The new JMM legislative party leader Champai Soren is yet to be called by the Governor for swearing-in ceremony.
The state has been with out a chief minister for more than 24 hours and despite repeated requests, Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan has not yet decided on Champai Soren’s swearing-in ceremony.
“We could not go because of poor visibility. We will fight against them (BJP)…,” said Jharkhand Minister Banna Gupta.
The MLAs will reportedly stay at Ranchi circuit house until tomorrow. According to sources, 39 MLAs are being sent to Congress-ruled Telangana and the four will remain in Ranchi.
Their letter of support has already been submitted to the Governor. It was not immediately clear why the Governor was taking time in allowing the oath ceremony of the new CM.
Meanwhile, the JMM has questioned the intention of the Governor. JMM MP Mahua Maji said that the new government in Bihar was formed within five hours of Nitish Kumar’s resignation but in Jharkhand it has not been done even after nearly 24 hours.
“As soon as Hemant Soren submitted his resignation, we presented our claim to form the government… 43 MLAs went along in a bus but they were not called. But in Bihar, the new government was formed within 5 hours… Even after 22 hours, when representatives of all the parties went, there was no discussion on forming the government… No time or further information was provided… This creates a question on their intention…,” she said.
The Opposition Congress, an ally of the JMM in Jharkhand, has termed the Governor’s decision to not invite Champai Soren for government formation a “contempt of the Constitution”.
“In the House of 81 MLAs, only 41 form a 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 mandate,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.