The Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government proved the majority by winning the trust vote in the state assembly on Monday, July 8. Soren won the confidence motion with votes of 45 MLAs in his favour.
After winning the Floor test, Jharkhand Soren said, "...Since 2019, we have been continuously following constitutional procedures and today again you all got to see the strength and power of the ruling party. On my behalf, I thank the Speaker and all the respected members of the ruling party."
In the 81-member Jharkhand assembly, the Chief Minister Soren-led coalition government needed to prove the support of 41 MLAs to be in power. The ruling alliance -- comprising of JMM, Congress, and Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) -- has already handed over a support list of 44 MLAs to the Governor when Hemant Soren staked his claim to form the government on July 3 ahead of his swearing-in.
The decision to move the confidence motion was taken a day after both the ruling alliance-- led by Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)--and the Opposition, held separate meetings to craft strategies for the special assembly session.
The BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly, Amar Bauri has raised questions on why a new government under Hemant Soren was formed in Jharkhand when the CM Champai Soren-led government was already functioning.
"The party has decided to participate in the floor test on Monday. We request the government to ensure a debate and allow the opposition to speak... The BJP wants the Chief Minister to explain in the House why it was necessary to form a new government when former CM Champai Soren was already functioning," Bauri said.
Before the crucial trust vote, while the JMM, Congress, and RJD legislators exuded confidence in securing a successful outcome in the floor test on Monday, the Opposition BJP asserted that it wouldn't be easy for the ruling alliance.
Change of Guards In Jharkhand
On July 4, JMM executive president Hemant Soren took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand, a day after the resignation of his predecessor Champai Soren. Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after the High Court of Jharkhand granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as CM shortly before his arrest on January 31 by the Enforcement Directorate.
Strength In Jharkhand Assembly
After the Lok Sabha elections, the strength of the ruling alliance has been reduced to 45 MLAs – JMM-27, Congress-17, and RJD-1. Two JMM MLAs, Nalin Soren, and Joba Majhi, are now parliamentarians, while Jama legislator Sita Soren resigned to contest the general elections on a BJP ticket. The JMM expelled two legislators – Bishunpur MLA Chamra Linda and Boriyo MLA Lobin Hembrom – from the party.
Similarly, the BJP's strength in the assembly has reduced to 24, as two of its MLAs – Dhulu Mahto (Baghmara) and Manish Jaiswal (Hazaribag) – are now MPs. The saffron party expelled Mandu MLA Jaiprakash Bhai Patel after he joined Congress to contest the polls. The current strength of the 81-member Jharkhand assembly is 76.