Champai Soren is a senior member of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (File).
Ranchi:
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Champai Soren said Thursday he had urged Governor CP Radhakrishnan to invite him to form the next government. In his meeting, Champai Soren cited “a situation of confusion” in the state, which has been without a Chief Minister since the dramatic arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate last evening on money laundering charges.
Champai Soren met Governor Radhakrishnan at his Raj Bhawan residence in Ranchi with five MLAs from the ruling JMM-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal. He informed the Governor that he had the backing of 43 MLAs from the alliance; a 49-second roll-call video was played, sources told NDTV.
READ |Â “1,2,3…”: Video Shows Jharkhand MLAs’ Roll Call Amid Uncertainty
“We stand united… all 43 MLAs are staying at Circuit House (a state government guesthouse),” Mr Soren told reporters, “The Governor assured us he will soon take a decision on our request.”
NDTV understands the Governor recognised Mr Soren’s claim, but has not yet accepted it.
Therefore a date and time for the swearing-in ceremony has not been announced so far.
Meanwhile, amid the political turmoil in the state, the MLAs backing Champai Soren have been herded together and are expected to be flown out of the state, heralding the start of “resort politics”.Â
The meeting between Champai Soren and the Governor followed an emotional appeal in which Mr Soren, widely seen already as a Chief Minister-in-waiting, urged the latter to take immediate action.
READ |Â “No Government For 18 Hours”: Champai Soren To Jharkhand Governor
“…there is no government for 18 hours. There is a situation of confusion. Being the constitutional head, we expect you will soon take steps for the formation of a popular government…” he wrote.
Champai Soren was, late last evening, chosen as the legislative party leader of the JMM; this was after Hemant Soren stepped down and was arrested by the central agency.
Earlier today a special court in Ranchi sent Hemant Soren to judicial custody for a nominal one-day period. This was because Mr Soren has already moved the Supreme Court to challenge his arrest.
READ |Â Hemant Soren Sent To Jail For A Day, Probe Agency Custody Decision Tomorrow
He also called his arrest “illegal and without jurisdiction”; Mr Soren has already filed one case against senior officers of the probe agency under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes Act.
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud agreed to hear the plea at 2 pm Friday.
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