Amid speculation of his disqualification as MLA over a mining lease contract, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday met ruling alliance legislators twice at his official residence, apparently to chalk out a future strategy and send out a message of their unity.
Uncertainty over Mr. Soren’s government arose after the Election Commission (EC) reportedly sent a report recommending his disqualification over allegations that he allocated a mining lease to himself while holding the portfolio of Mines Minister in 2021. The Governor had forwarded a complaint in this regard by BJP MLAs to the EC.
In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, the Soren-led ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has 30 MLAs. Among its allies, Congress has 18, while Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and National Congress Party have one each.