Jharkhand Ruling Alliance Leaders Say Leaks From Guv's Office On CM's Disqualification Creating Chaos

Jharkhand Crisis: The delegation does not include any sitting MLA or minister.

The UPA delegation with Governor Ramesh Bais

New Delhi: A delegation of leaders from Jharkhand's ruling alliance told Governor Ramesh Bais on Thursday that "selective leaks" on Chief Minister Hemant Soren's disqualification as an MLA was creating chaos, confusion, uncertainty, PTI reported. The delegation included three MPs -- Congress MP Geeta Koda and JMM MPs Mahua Manjhi and Vijay Hansda. The delegation did not include any sitting Jharkhand MLA or minister.

The delegation also asked the Governor to clear the confusion over the Election Commission's ruling on the office of profit case. There is a buzz that the EC has recommended the chief minister's disqualification as an MLA for violating electoral norms by allotting himself a mining lease. The Governor has not yet taken any decision in this matter.

The EC acted on the matter after the BJP, in its petition, sought Soren's disqualification from the Assembly for violating Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This act deals with ineligibility for government contracts.

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The delegation said that speculations on Soren's fate had encouraged the destablisation of a democratically elected government, PTI reported.

It asserted that disqualification of Soren as an MLA would not affect the government. The ruling JMM-Congress-RJD coalition has 49 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.

Earlier this week, the ruling coalition in Jharkhand flew its 32 MLAs to Raipur to prevent the BJP's alleged attempts to poach its legislators and shifted them to a luxurious resort in Nava Raipur.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren did not accompany the UPA MLAs to Raipur, but some senior JMM leaders are with them, PTI reported.

JMM believes that the BJP might make an attempt to poach MLAs of the party and alliance partner Congress in a bid to topple the coalition government in the state.

(With inputs from agencies)