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In Jharkhand, BJP demands mid-term poll; ex-CM says Soren ‘misused power’
The Election Commission has written back to governor Ramesh Bais recommending the disqualification of chief minister Hemant Soren from the state assembly for holding an office-of-profit.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey said his party "wants a mid-term poll" in Jharkhand following reports that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has written back to governor Ramesh Bais recommending the disqualification of chief minister Hemant Soren from the state assembly for holding an office-of-profit.
“Hemant Soren should head towards mid-term polls, on moral grounds. The assembly should be dissolved and there should be elections in all 81 assembly constituencies. The BJP has been demanding this,” Dubey said.
"The Election Commission letter has reached the governor...I had announced that It will be done within August," he had tweeted earlier in the day.
Bias had sought ECI’s opinion over a complaint received from the state opposition BJP that Soren should be disqualified from the assembly as he allegedly holds an office-of-profit by getting a stone chips mining lease in his name.
While the top government sources confirmed the ECI has sent its recommendations, they refused to share the details of the opinion rendered to the governor as yet.
Bais is scheduled to reach Ranchi from Delhi sometime in the afternoon.
“I do not know anything as of now about any order for me. I had gone to AIIMS for treatment, I can only say anything after I reach Raj Bhawan,” the governor Ramesh Bais told reporters.
Reacting to the development, former chief minister Raghubar Das alleged Jharkhand had chosen the JMM with a lot of hope and trust, but ever since it came to power, it started looting the state's natural resources. “If someone is responsible for what is happening today, it's the Soren government itself. It's in trouble due to its own misdeeds,” news agency ANI quoted Das as saying.
“Let's see what action the governor takes. Not only he (Soren) should be stripped of his membership but he should also be debarred. Action should be taken against him under PC Act as it's a matter of corruption. He misused his position,” Das added.
Received no communication: CMO
Reacting to the reports, the chief minister’s office released a statement saying they have received no communication from either the ECI or Governor.
“The Chief Minister is apprised of several media reports about ECI sending a report to hon’ble Governor -Jharkhand ‘apparently recommending his disqualification as a MLA’. No communication in this regard has been received by CMO from either ECI or Governor," it read.
"It apparently seems that BJP leaders including a BJP MP and his puppet journalists have themselves drafted the ECI report, which is otherwise a sealed cover report. This blatant misuse of constitutional authorities and public agencies and its complete takeover by BJP HQ in Deendayal Upadhyay Marg in this shameful manner is unseen in Indian Democracy”, the statement stated.
(With inputs from ANI/PTI)
