Champai Soren-led Jharkhand govt to witness crucial trust vote today

The Champai Soren government in Jharkhand is set to face the crucial trust vote today to prove its majority. The majority mark in the 81-member assembly is 41.

The new government was sworn in last week after a massive political crisis following the arrest of its Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges related to a money laundering case.

Despite vehement objections by ED, a special PMLA court granted him permission to attend the trust vote, recognising his right as a member of the assembly.

The ruling alliance comprises the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), with a total of 47 MLAs in the 81-member assembly. They also have the external support of one CPI(ML)(L) legislator.

Currently, 43 MLAs are backing Champai Soren.

The ruling alliance of the parties had sent off their MLAs to Congress-ruled Telangana by chartered plane to prevent any poaching by the BJP, following allegations that some of the MLAs were approached by the saffron party, in an attempt at what the Opposition calls Operation Lotus.

"Our MLAs are united... We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators," state minister Alamgir Alam told reporters on their return from Hyderabad this evening, reports NDTV.

The opposition includes the BJP with 25 MLAs, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) party with three MLAs, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and CPI(ML)(L) with one member each, and three Independents.

JMM lawmaker Mithilesh Thakur asserted that the party-led coalition will sail through the trust vote, reported news agency Press Trust of India. "Many BJP legislators are also in support of the alliance in the state," he claimed.

According to JMM sources, all the MLAs are back this morning, just hours before the trust vote.

Champai Soren along with ministers Alamgir Alam of the Congress and Satyanand Bhokta of the RJD, was administered the oath of office by Governor CP Radhakrishnan on February 2, over 24 hours after Hemant Soren stepped down from the top post.

Soon after, Soren was arrested by the ED in an alleged money laundering case connected to a land scam.

The former Chief Minister, who represents the Barhait Assembly constituency in Sahibganj district, had appealed to the court earlier in the day, to allow him to vote in the new government’s floor test, as a member of the Jharkhand Assembly.

Also Read: Ex-Jharkhand CM’s plea against ED arrest refused by SC; asked to approach HC