Jharkhand political crisis deepens: JMM MLAs to be shifted to Bengal, Sigarh?

Amid the political crisis, reports suggest preparations have been made to shift ruling coalition legislatorTo “friendly states” like West Bengal or Chhattisgarh, if need be, to stop poaching attempts by the BJP, multiple sources confirmed.

The third round of the ruling coalition’s legislators meeting is underway at the Chief Minister’s residence to chalk out a strategy to deal with the emerging scenario. He said that all the ruling MLAs are attending the meeting with their belongings.

Raj Bhavan sources said Governor Ramesh Bais is likely to send an order disqualifying Soren as an MLA to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday.

“All arrangements to park our coalition MLAs in either Chhattisgarh or West Bengal, operated by both” non-BJP governments, Has been done. Three luxury buses have reached Ranchi to transport MLAs and security personnel by road. There will also be some escort vehicles,” a Congress source told PTI.

The source said that three places including Bermuda and Raipur in Chhattisgarh and a few places in West Bengal have been identified.

Another source said, “All the ruling MLAs will be sent to one place if required. All the MLAs have come with their luggage to attend the important meeting at the chief minister’s residence.”

A JMM source said the option of moving the MLAs out of Jharkhand is open and all preparations have been made but the final decision will be taken only after the disqualification order is sent by the governor.

Party sources said that in the rapidly changing political scenario, ‘resort politics’ is the need of the hour to retain the numbers of the ruling coalition.

Congress insiders, a key ally in the JMM-led ruling coalition, had said ring fencing of legislators by parking them at a resort in a “friendly state” like West Bengal, Bihar or Chhattisgarh could be considered as an option. Used to be. To stop poaching of MLAs by BJP.

However, he said the future course of action could be taken after the governor informs him of the Election Commission’s opinion on the possible disqualification of Soren as an MLA.

Meanwhile, BJP’s Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, who is known for his controversial remarks, tweeted: “According to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha sources, some MLAs reached Chhattisgarh at 2 am. Most of the MLAs are hesitant to leave and are waiting for the orders of the senior JMM leader. Basant Soren. Some buses are parked in Ranchi for MLAs.”

ECI sent its opinion basso On August 25, a petition was filed seeking disqualification of Soren as an MLA for violating electoral norms by extending a mining lease.

Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam had said on Friday that the ruling coalition’s MLAs cannot be poached and they will stay in Ranchi.

Another minister, Mithilesh Thakur, had claimed that the ruling coalition has a “magic number of 50 MLAs, which can go up to 56”, adding that he has learned ‘resort politics’ from the saffron party.

Meanwhile, Raj Bhavan sources said the governor may consider the Election Commission’s views on the “disqualification” of the chief minister as an MLA by evening and send a disqualification order to the commission.

BJP, the petitioner in the case, has sought Soren’s disqualification for violating section 9(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals with disqualification for government contracts.

The clause states that “a person shall be disqualified, and unless, in the course of his trade or business, a contract is entered into by him with the appropriate Government for the supply of goods or for the performance thereof.” any work done by him”.

The issue was referred to the Governor and the Election Commission by him, because Article 192 of the Constitution states that on decisions regarding the disqualification of an MLA, the question shall be referred to the Governor who in turn “shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and act in accordance with such opinion”.

The ruling coalition has 49 MLAs in the 81-member assembly.

The single largest party, JMM, has 30 MLAs, Congress 18 and RJD one. The main opposition BJP has 26 MLAs in the house.

Coalition allies had claimed on Thursday that there was no threat to the government.

The JMM had expressed confidence that Soren would remain the chief minister for the full term till 2024.

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