For more than a fortnight, Hemant Soren had been busy keeping his flock of legislators together after Governor Ramesh Bais reportedly received a notice from the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking the Jharkhand Chief Minister’s disqualification as an MLA in connection with a case lodged against him involving a stone chips mining lease in 2019. The mysterious envelope from the ECI was said to be received by the Governor’s office on August 25. Fearing poaching of MLAs by the Opposition BJP, the Mr. Soren-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had even shifted some of them to neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
Amid the evolving situation in the tribal State, UPA leaders met the Governor on August 31 and submitted a memorandum, urging him to clear the air regarding the ECI notice. The Governor reportedly assured them that he would bring the matter to closure in two days.
On September 5, Mr. Soren went on to prove majority of his government on the floor of the House to assert his hold over the alliance. The Governor, meanwhile, left for Delhi and returned to State capital Ranchi after a week on September 8.
