The decision came amidst the drama of JMM and Congress trying to fly their MLAs to Hyderabad for 'safe-keeping'.
Published Feb 02, 2024 | 8:33 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 02, 2024 | 8:33 AM
Champai Soren will take oath as the next chief minister of Jharkhand. (X)
Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan has nominated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislative party leader Champai Soren as chief minister and invited him to take oath.
The Governor’s Principal Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni told PTI on Thursday, 1 February : “We have invited him to take oath. Now they will decide when to take it.”
Earlier in the day, Champai Soren, heading a delegation of JMM-led coalition, called on the Governor and urged him to accept his claim to form the government at the earliest as there was “confusion” in the state.
He told Radhakrishnan that the state which was without a chief minister since the resignation of Hemant Soren, deepening the political crisis.
Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case after he resigned as chief minister on Wednesday night.
Earlier in the day, amid concerns over the delay in the appointment of JMM legislative party leader Champai Soren as the next chief minister by the Governor, the majority alliance also took steps to shift its MLAs from Jharkhand in two chartered planes, in a bid to ring-fence them against a possible poaching attempt by the BJP.
The alliance had planned to take its MLAs to Hyderabad from Ranchi in two chartered planes — one 12-seater and another of 37 seats.
Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana which is governed by the Congress, a constituent of the coalition.
However, the planes could not take off due to poor visibility, airport sources said. The MLAs who waited for around two hours at the airport returned to the Circuit House here, where they had been staying.
Meanwhile, Hemant Soren, who was produced before the special PMLA court in Ranchi, was sent to judicial custody for a day.
He was arrested by the ED on Wednesday after over seven hours of questioning on money laundering charges in an alleged land fraud case. Before the arrest, he tendered his resignation as Jharkhand chief minister.
The 48-year-old leader has also moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest and the matter has been posted for hearing on Friday.
As there was no official communication from the Raj Bhavan over the government formation, Champai Soren wrote to the Governor, saying: “Hemant Soren had tendered his resignation as the chief minister on Wednesday night, which was accepted by the Raj Bhavan at 8.45 pm.
“There is no government in existence in the state for the last 18 hours. There is a situation of confusion. You are the constitutional head. We all the MLAs and the people expect that you will pave the way for the formation of a popular government…”.
Earlier in the day, state Congress chief Rajesh Thakur told PTI that Champai Soren, who is also heading the alliance, has sought time from the governor at 3 pm to prove the majority. However, the governor called them for a meeting at 5.30 pm.
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