Jharkhand cabinet likely to be expanded after confidence vote on June 8
Two JMM MPs, Nalin Soren and Joba Majhi, are now MPs, while Jama legislator Sita Soren has resigned to contest the general elections on behalf of the BJP. (ANI)
On the eve of the crucial vote in the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government on Monday, both the ruling alliance and the opposition held separate meetings to carefully formulate strategies for the special session.
While legislators from the JMM, Congress and RJD were confident that the confidence vote would be successful, the opposition BJP said it would not be easy for the ruling alliance.
After the vote of confidence, the Sören cabinet will be expanded, an MLA said.
“Floor test and expansion of the cabinet were discussed during the meeting. After the vote of confidence, the cabinet will be expanded,” Poreyahat MLA Pradeep Yadav told reporters on Sunday.
Yadav, who joined the Congress after winning the 2019 state Assembly elections on a JVM-P ticket, claimed that they have enough seats in the House to win the confidence vote.
JMM legislator Stephen Marandi said the party has directed all alliance MLAs to be present in the House and participate in the voting.
The BJP, on the other hand, said it will not be a piece of cake for the ruling alliance to survive the elections.
Speaking to reporters after the party’s legislative meeting, opposition leader Amar Bauri alleged that there is infighting among the alliance members.
“The party has decided to participate in the floor test on Monday. We request the government to ensure a debate and allow the opposition to speak,” he said.
The BJP wants the Prime Minister to explain in the House why it was necessary to form a new government when former Chief Minister Champai Soren was already functioning, Bauri added.
“There is an internal struggle within the alliance. Hemant Soren did not dare to expand the cabinet for the floor test as he knows that the situation may not be in his favour,” Bauri said.
On July 4, JMM chairman Hemant Soren took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand, a day after the resignation of his predecessor Champai Soren.
Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after the Jharkhand High Court granted him bail in a money laundering case related to an alleged land fraud. He had resigned as CM shortly before his arrest on January 31 by the Enforcement Directorate.
After the Lok Sabha elections, the strength of the ruling alliance has been reduced to 45 MLAs: JMM-27, Congress-17 and RJD-1.
Two JMM MPs, Nalin Soren and Joba Majhi, are now MPs, while Jama legislator Sita Soren has resigned to contest the general elections on behalf of the BJP.
The JMM has expelled two legislators, Bishunpur MLA Chamra Linda and Boriyo MLA Lobin Hembrom, from the party.
Similarly, the BJP’s strength in the assembly has been reduced to 24 as two of its MLAs Dhulu Mahto (Baghmara) and Manish Jaiswal (Hazaribag) are now MPs. The saffron party has expelled Mandu MLA Jaiprakash Bhai Patel after he joined Congress to contest the elections.
The current strength of the Jharkhand Assembly, which has 81 members, is 76.
The ruling alliance had handed over a list of 44 MPs to the Governor when Hemant Soren staked claim to form the government on July 3.
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First print: 07 Jul 2024 | 23:34 IST