Jharkhand Crisis: CM Hemant Soren Wins Crucial Trust Vote Amid Corruption Allegations

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has proved his majority on the floor after the Jharkhand Assembly in a one-day special session on Monday passed the confidence motion tabled by the CM, even as BJP legislators staged a walk-out. After Maharashtra and Bihar, all eyes are now on Jharkhand where the ruling JMM-Congress alliance government has accused the BJP in Opposition of fomenting trouble and attempting to gain MLAs by horsetrading. Soren, however, will be continuing in office for now with as many as 48 MLAs voting in favour of the confidence motion in the 81-member Assembly.

Why Soren conducted a trust vote

Soren said the need for trust vote was felt as BJP was "attempting to destabilise democratically elected governments" in non-BJP ruled states, including Jharkhand.

He alleged that the BJP was trying to create a "civil war-like situation in country by fuelling riots to win elections".

On Sunday, at least 30 MLAs of the ruling UPA coalition in Jharkhand who had been camping in Chhattisgarh, since August 30 made their way back to Ranchi to attend the special assembly session on Monday. The MLAs had been packed up by the UPA alliance and sent off to a resort in Raipur to prevent alleged attempts of poaching by Opposition MLAS in a bid to topple the government.

What's happening in Jharkhand?

The BJP has sought CM Soren's disqualification from the assembly in an office-of-profit case. On August 25, the Election Commission (EC) communicated its decision to Governor Ramesh Bais, sparking a political crisis in the state.

Though the EC’s decision has not yet been made official, there is a buzz that the poll panel recommended the CM’s disqualification as an MLA.

The ruling UPA, however, has maintained that Soren’s disqualification will not affect the government, as the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition enjoys an absolute majority in the 81-member House. 

Meanwhile, Soren on Sunday evening told reporters that the opposition was “hatching a conspiracy” against the Jharkhand government, but asserted it will not be successful in any such attempt.

Opposition trying to 'hatch conspiracy'

Soren’s party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) believes that the BJP may make a serious attempt to poach MLAs from the party and also from the ally Congress in a bid to topple the government in a manner similar to Maharashtra. Since the inception of the crisis, UPA has targeted BJP and accused it of trying to indulge in horsetrading. In a joint statement on August 28, UPA constituents had accused Bais of encouraging political horse-trading by “deliberately delaying” announcing the decision.

The accusations have been fuelled by the Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bai's visit to Delhi shortly after meeting with UPA MLAs on September 1 on the issue. Raj Bhavan sources, however, said it was a ‘personal visit’ for a medical check-up and he is likely to return to Jharkhand on Sunday.

(With inputs from PTI)