Jharkhand political crisis: Bus carrying UPA MLAs seen at Latratu dam in Khunti

Amid the political crisis in Jharkhand, the ruling JMM-Congress government on Saturday shifted UPA MLAs to the Khunti district of Jharkhand to avoid poaching attempts by the BJP.

The bus carrying Jharkhand MLAs were shifted from the residence of state Chief Minister Hemant Soren to Latratu dam in Khunti district while a heavy police force was also deployed in the region.

"All ministers and MLAs are together. We will go to other places too, don't know where will we go next. Several things are in motion right now," Minister Satyanand Bhokta said addressing the media persons.

Two Volvo buses carrying MLAs of the JMM-led ruling alliance were seen leaving the CM's residence earlier this afternoon after a meeting of the UPA legislators, here, amidst the speculation about his possible disqualification as an MLA in the state assembly for allegedly violating poll norms by extending himself a mining lease. Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Congress Legislative Party is holding a meeting this evening with Incharge Avinash Pande presiding.

In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, the ruling alliance has 30 MLAs of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), 18 MLAs of the Congress and one MLA of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Earlier on Saturday, Chief Minister Hemant Soren had called a meeting of the state's ruling UPA coalition members, amidst speculation about his possible disqualification as an MLA in the state assembly for allegedly violating poll norms by extending himself a mining lease. This was the third meeting in two days. Several MLAs were seen arriving for the meeting with luggage in tow. There is speculation that the MLAs will be taken to Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh. Prior to the meeting at Soren's house, the Congress Jharkhand president Rajesh Thakur said that all the MLAs have been asked to come prepared."

I have no information about this. MLAs are coming with luggage for the meeting because they have been asked to be ready. We will let you know if MLAs are asked to shift somewhere," Thakur said.

The Congress had blamed the BJP for polluting politics in the state. "Jharkhand's politics is different... BJP is trying to pollute politics here. If EC sends a report in a sealed envelope, it gets leaked even before it's opened. The alliance government's recent decisions will affect their (BJP) base in the tribal areas," Jharkhand Congress working president Bandhu Tirkey told ANI.

Taking a jibe at the Soren-led meeting, BJP leader Nishikant Dubey said, "Even after scrambling, only 33 MLAs could gather in Ranchi. "Meanwhile, this morning Soren tweeted that he hailed from the tribal community and was unaffected by the ongoing slugfest.

“This is a tribal son. Never have our ways ever been stopped by their tactics nor have we ever been afraid. Our ancestors have long removed the feeling of fear from us. There's no place of fear in the DNA of us Adivasis," tweeted Jharkhand CM.

Today's meeting of the MLAs came a day after CM Soren denied receiving any communication from the ECI or Governor Ramesh Bais on the statements about the poll body "recommending his disqualification as an MLA.

The BJP has sought the disqualification of Soren as an MLA accusing him of allocating a mining lease to himself while he held the portfolio of Mines Minister in 2021.In February this year, the BJP submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking disqualification of Soren from the House under Section 9(A) of the Representation of People's Act. The Governor had forwarded the BJP complaint to the ECI and the poll panel in May had issued a notice to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader. (ANI)