Jharkhand Political Crisis LIVE Updates: After two days of political crisis following the resignation and subsequent arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday, 1 February, invited Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren to form the government in the state.
The announcement by the Raj Bhawan came after roughly 24 hours of political turmoil and uncertainty with MLAs of the ruling alliance – which includes the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation – submitting a letter of support of 47 MLAs to Governor Radhakrishnan.
Earlier on Thursday, Hemant Soren moved the Supreme Court, challenging his arrest by the ED in connection with the alleged land scam. However, the top court refused to interfere and directed Soren to approach the Jharkhand High Court on Friday morning.
Key developments so far:
Hemant Soren on Wednesday night, 31 January, resigned from his post amid a probe by the ED of the land scam case, thereby plunging the state and the JMM, a Congress ally, into crisis.
He was in ED custody when he resigned as CM and was arrested soon after he tendered his resignation to Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
The ED is investigating an alleged multi-crore scam, wherein documents dating back to over 100 years were reportedly forged and transactions were made around it.
These developments came hours after ED officials arrived at Hemant Soren's Ranchi residence on Wednesday for questioning during the ongoing probe.
Earlier that day, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against ED officials under the SC/ST Act based on Soren's complaint.
This is reportedly the first time a sitting chief minister was taken into the ED's custody.
The parties in the Jharkhand coalition government include JMM (29 seats), Congress (17 seats), NCP (1 seat), CPI(M) (1 seat), and RJD (1 seat).
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SC Refuses To Interfere in Hemant Soren's ED Arrest
The Supreme Court has refused to interfere in the arrest of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's arrest by ED in a hearing held on Friday, 2 February, according to a report by LiveLaw.
The apex court has directed the JMM chief to approach the Jharkhand High Court. The matter was heard by a special bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M Trivedi.
'BJP Engaging in Horse Trading': Congress
"There was delay to swear-in the CM (in Jharkhand). In Bihar, one CM resigns and within 10 minutes, the new CM takes over. But in Jharkhand, the BJP is engaging in horse trading, and they want to take away MLAs from the RJD, JMM, Congress and other parties," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Champai Soren To Take Oath as Jharkhand CM Today
JMM leader Champai Soren will be sworn in as the new chief minister of Jharkhand on Friday, 2 February, days after party chief Hemant Soren resigned and was arrested by the ED.
Additionally, Champai Soren is expected to prove the majority of the ruling alliance in the state legislative Assembly with a floor test that is required to be held within the next ten days, as per Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan's announcement.
But how much do we know about soon-to-be Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren? Read here.
Governor Invites Champai Soren To Form Government
After two days of political crisis following the resignation and subsequent arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday, 1 February, invited Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren to form the government in the state.