Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Monday won the floor test in the state Assembly with the support of 47 MLAs. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led ‘Mahagathbandhan’ will retains its government in the state.
Of the 77 MLAs present in the Assembly during the trust vote, the opposition NDA — BJP in alliance with AJSU party — got 29 votes in the 81-member House. Meanwhile, Independent legislator Saryu Roy did not participate in the voting process.
Champai Soren was given ten days to prove his government’s majority on the floor of the House, following which he set the date for the trust vote as February 5.
HEMANT SOREN TAKES PART IN TRUST VOTE
During the session today, former CM Hemant Soren challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party to prove the corruption charges against him, asserting that if the accusation are proved, he will quit politics.
Taking part in the confidence motion moved by CM Champai Soren, Hemant alleged that the Raj Bhavan also had a role in his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
“I challenge BJP to prove corruption charges against me. If proved, I will resign from politics,” said Hemant Soren.
Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case in an alleged land fraud. On February 2, the former Jharkhand CM was remanded to ED custody for five days by the court.
However, a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court in Ranchi allowed Hemant Soren to participate in the trust vote in the Assembly on Monday.
JMM-LED COALITION MLAs BACK IN RANCHI
Around 40 MLAs of the ruling JMM-led coalition, who were camping in a resort in Hyderabad, returned to the state on Sunday to take part in the crucial trust vote on Monday.
After arriving in Ranchi, legislators had exuded confidence to win the trust vote in the assembly. “Our MLAs are united… We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators,” Minister Alamgir Alam said.
The MLAs were earlier sent to a private resort in Shamirpet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, amid fear of “poaching” after JMM leader Champai Soren took over as the chief minister following Hemant’s arrest.
The ruling alliance, between the JMM, Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has 47 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly and is supported from outside by the lone CPIML (L) legislator.
Earlier while staking claim to form the government, Champai Soren had said, “We expect that the number will reach 46-47 so there is no problem. Our ‘gathbandhan’ is very strong.”
WHAT IS A FLOOR TEST?
A floor test, also known as trust vote, generally takes place when a new government is sworn in. The test aims to check whether the said government has the support of the majority of the legislature. If the party under test, fails the trust vote, the executive of the government has to step down.
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