Jharkhand political crisis: UPA MLAs headed for Raipur, say sources

NEW DELHI: UPA MLAs in Jharkhand are reportedly leaving Ranchi for Raipur in Chhattisgarh- the latest development in an unfolding political crisis.

The MLAs were seen heading to the Ranchi airport after a meeting at chief minister Hemant Soren's residence earlier in the day, to chalk out a strategy to face any evolving situation. Sources at the Ranchi airport confirmed that an IndiGo flight has been booked for Raipur by the state government.

Chief minister Soren himself and some JMM MLAs could be staying back in Ranchi, Congress legislator Alamgir Alam said. However Hemant Soren was seen on one of the buses headed towards the Ranchi airport.

Bus with UPA MLAs reach Ranchi airport

There already were speculations that UPA MLAs could be moved to another non-BJP ruled state- either Chhattisgarh or West Bengal as the crisis deepens in Jharkhand.

Soren's JMM believes that the BJP may make a serious attempt to poach MLAs from it and from the Congress in a bid to topple the government in a manner “similar to Maharashtra” and there is a need to ringfence the legislators in a “safe haven.”

The Ranchi Raj Bhavan has been maintaining a silence over the Election Commission's ruling on the Chief Minister's continuance as an MLA.

Following a petition by the BJP seeking Soren's disqualification from the Assembly in an office of profit case, the Election Commission has sent its decision to state governor Ramesh Bais on August 25.

Though the EC's decision is not yet made official, there was a buzz that the poll panel has recommended the chief minister's disqualification as an MLA. The Raj Bhavan did not announce anything on this matter since then.

The UPA legislators have requested the governor to clear the confusion saying they were ready to face any situation.

On August 28, UPA constituents – the JMM, Congress and the RJD – had in a joint statement accused the governor of encouraging political horse-trading by "deliberately delaying" announcing a decision on the CM's membership of the legislature.

The ruling coalition has 49 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly.

A meeting of the Jharkhand cabinet has been scheduled on September 1 at 4 pm.

(With agency inputs)

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.