'Just Like Lalu, Rabri...': BJP Claims Jharkhand MLA Resigned To Make Way For Hemant Soren's Wife To Become CM

Sarfaraz Ahmed resigned as the Gandey MLA from Giridih on Wednesday. After tendering his resignation at a key party meeting, Ahmed said that if a crisis arose, the seat could be used.

Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi (left), CM Hemant Soren with his wife Kalpana (right). ( Image Source :Instagram@yourbabulal/PTI )

The BJP on Thursday claimed that Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MLA Sarfaraz Ahmed resigned on Wednesday so that Hemant Soren can continue his reign through his wife Kalpana once the CM is sent to jail. Comparing the installation of Rabri Devi as Bihar's first woman CM by Lalu Prasad Yadav after his arrest in 1997 in the fodder scam, Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi said: "As you know, the ED has sent a notice to CM Soren for the 7th time and he's now running here and there. So, it seems like a seat is being made vacant for the election of a non-MLA."

Marandi also wrote to Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan, saying, "Sarfaraz Ahmed gave resignation letter from his MLA seat. He tendered his resignation and it was accepted immediately. So, it's natural that I would like to know the reason behind it... It seems that the seat of Sarfaraz Ahmad has been vacated for someone who's not an MLA so that s/he can get elected as an MLA. The state CM knows that someday he has to go behind bars. So, he wants to safeguard a seat."

Sarfaraz Ahmed resigned as the Gandey MLA from Giridih on Wednesday. After tendering his resignation at a key party meeting, Ahmed said that if a crisis arose, the seat could be used. "I resigned on my own. It was a need of the party. So, I quit... There was no deal..." However, when asked if Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana would contest the Gandey seat, Ahmed said this was a decision the party would have to take.

The JMM coalition, comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Indian National Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the Nationalist Congress Party, has said that Hemant Soren has no plan to resign and would continue to be the CM.

Congress MLA and Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Aalamgir Aalam said that the Hemant Soren government would complete its five-year tenure. "Soren will continue as Chief Minister. We are in the alliance and will continue to work together. There were no talks regarding a change of leadership," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Asked about the sudden resignation of Ahmed, Aalam said, "We always keep an alternative open, and this was part of the same strategy."