Jharkhand Crisis: Buses Carrying MLAs Leave Soren's Home Amid Poaching Fears, Sources Say They're Going to Khunti, Cong Meeting at 8:30 pm

Amid the political crisis in Jharkhand, Soren and ruling legislators were seen leaving for some unknown destination on three buses. The three buses were occupied by the legislators of the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD coalition and guarded by security personnel.

The move comes after a meeting of the UPA legislators was held earlier today at the CM’s residence to chalk out a strategy and to ensure that there was no threat to the government. CM Hemant Soren is trying to keep all the MLAs united as speculation mounts that he might be disqualified from the state assembly.

The MLAs were being moved towards Khunti district, sources said. Meanwhile, the Congress has called a meeting of its party MLAs at 8:30 pm on Saturday.

A few insiders from the Congress, which is a crucial ally of the JMM, earlier said that the MLAs may be moved to a resort in a “friendly state” such as West Bengal, Bihar or Chhattisgarh to avoid poaching by the BJP.

“All arrangements to park our coalition legislators in either Chhattisgarh or West Bengal, both run by non-BJP governments, have been made. Three luxury buses have reached Ranchi to transport the MLAs and security personnel by road. There will also be some escort vehicles,” a Congress source told PTI. The source said three locations in Chhattisgarh, including Barmuda and Raipur, and some places in West Bengal have been identified.

“All ruling MLAs will be sent to a single destination if the need arises. All the MLAs have come with their luggage to the CM’s house to attend the crucial meeting which is underway,” another source said. A JMM source said the option to take the legislators out of Jharkhand was open and all preparations have been made but the final decision will be taken only after the disqualification order is dispatched by the governor.

The ruling coalition has maintained that there is no threat to the government. However, the BJP has called for mid-term elections.

According to sources, Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais is likely to send his recommendation to ECI on the disqualification of Soren today (Saturday). The final decision now lies in a sealed envelope with the Governor who will take a call today.

Reacting to the developments in the state, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, in a tweet, said “This is a tribal son. Never have our ways ever been stopped by their tactics nor have we ever been afraid. Our ancestors have long removed the feeling of fear from us. There’s no place of fear in the DNA of us Adivasis.”

A second meeting was held on Friday amid the intense speculation about the political fate of CM Soren at his residence. JMM has said it will move the Supreme Court if Soren is disqualified as an MLA.

The Congress attacked the BJP in the state and accussed it of polluting politics in the state. “Jharkhand’s politics is different… BJP is trying to pollute politics here. If EC sends a report in a sealed envelope, it gets leaked even before it’s opened. The alliance government’s recent decisions will affect their (BJP) base in tribal areas,” Jharkhand Congress working president Bandhu Tirkey told ANI.

However, they said, a decision on the future course of action can be taken once Governor Ramesh Bais communicates to them the Election Commission’s opinion on the possible disqualification of the Soren as an MLA for allegedly violating electoral norms by extending himself a mining lease.

Sources in the Raj Bhavan had on Thursday claimed that the EC recommended Soren’s disqualification as an MLA, but there is no official confirmation as yet.

Soren, who was in Latehar to attend a programme, lashed out at Centre, during the day, for “unleashing” all constitutional agencies to “de-stabilise a democratically elected government”.

The JMM executive president said “satanic forces” were all out to execute evil designs.

In a tweet, he later said, “The Centre has unleashed all agencies on me after I asked for legitimate Rs 1.36 lakh crore dues which are pending to the state. When they saw that they cannot harm me, they are trying to harass ‘Guruji’ (Shibu Soren), who is in a certain age bracket, to get to me.” The BJP, the petitioner in the case, has sought Soren’s disqualification for violating Section 9(A) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals with disqualification for government contracts.

The clause states that “a person shall be disqualified if, and for so long as, there subsists a contract entered into by him in the course of his trade or business with the appropriate government for the supply of goods to, or for the execution of any works undertaken by, that government”.

The ruling coalition has 49 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly. The JMM, as the largest party, has 30 MLAs, the Congress 18 legislators, and the RJD one. The main opposition BJP has 26 MLAs in the House.

Read all the Latest Politics News and Breaking News here