The resignation of Hemant Soren as Jharkhand CM and his subsequent arrest by Enforcement Directorate has led to a political turmoil in the state. The ruling JMM-Congress alliance claimed that Governor CP Radhakrishnan is acting like a BJP agent and has not given them time for swearing-in ceremony of new CM.
Hours before stepping down as CM, Hemant Soren held a meeting of JMM-Congress MLAs during which his loyalist Champai Soren was choosen as the new leader of the Legislative Party.
A delegation of alliance leaders along with Champai Soren met the Governor and submitted letters of support from 47 MLAs. However, the Governor didn’t give them time for swearing-in ceremony of the new CM and purportedly told them that he will first check the papers.
“We have proposed to form the government under the leadership of Champai Soren. We have 47 MLAs and we should be allowed to form the government… The Governor said that he will check our papers and call us…,” Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam said.
He further added that the Governor has not given time for the swearing-in ceremony of Champai Soren as new chief minister of Jharkhand.
Meanwhile, the Governor has accepted the resignation of Hemant Soren from the post of chief minister.
What numbers say in Jharkhand?
The ruling grand alliance of JMM- Congress-RJD and other constituents have 47 MLAs in the 81-member strong Jharkhand legislative assembly.
The JMM has 29 lawmakers in the Jharkhand assembly, the Congress 16 and the RJD one. The lone CPI(M) MLA also supporta the JMM-led alliance.
The BJP-led NDA, on the other hand, has just 32 MLAs, nine short of the majority mark.