Amid speculations of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren being disqualified after Election Commission of India's recommendation to the governor Ramesh Bais, the CM has called a meeting of UPA MLAs today at his residence in Ranchi, reported news agency ANI.
On Thursday, ECI sent a letter to Jharkhand Raj Bhawan asking the governor Ramesh Bais to disqualify Hemant Soren as a legislator for violating electoral norms, according to the news agency.
However, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) denied receiving any communication in this regard from the governor or the Election Commission of India.
"The Chief Minister is apprised of several media reports about ECI sending a report to Jharkhand Governor "apparently recommending his disqualification as an MLA". No communication in this regard has been received by CMO from either ECI or Governor, the Jharkhand CMO said in a statement, as reported by ANI.
While Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais cleared the air surrounding Raj Bhawan receiving the opinion of ECI on CM Hemant Soren on the office of profit matter and said, "I do not know anything as of now about any order for me. I had gone to AIIMS for treatment, I can only say anything after I reach Rajbhawan."
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the petitioner in the case, has accused Hemant Soren of allotting himself a stone mining lease by misusing his position as the mining and forest minister of the state.
RTI activist Shivshankar Sharma had filed two PILs demanding CBI and ED investigation into the mining scam in Jharkhand. It is alleged that Hemant Soren misused his position to own a stone quarry mine. The Soren family is also accused of investing in shell companies, reported ABP News.
(With ANI inputs)