JMM-led coalition govt in Jharkhand wins trust vote. Both the CM and former CM Hemant Soren spoke in the Assembly ahead of the trust vote slamming the BJP for the arrest. Hemant Soren was arrested on January 31 and remains in ED custody. He was allowed to appear in the Assembly for the trust vote.
Last evening, the MLAs of the ruling JMM-led alliance exuded confidence of winning the floor test, while the opposition BJP asserted that the coalition would be defeated. State minister Alamgir Alam had on Sunday said, “Our MLAs are united and we have the support of 48 to 50 legislators in the 81-member assembly”. A video, released by the coalition last week, had claimed that it has the support of 43 legislators.
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The alliance among the JMM, Congress and the RJD has 47 MLAs, and it is supported from outside by a lone CPIML(L) legislator. The MLAs of the ruling alliance also exuded confidence to win the trust vote in the assembly, soon after their return to Ranchi from Hyderabad on Sunday evening.
Hemant Soren: Will quit politics if…
Arrested former chief minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren on Monday challenged the BJP to prove the corruption charges against him, asserting that if the accusations are proved, he will quit politics.
Taking part in the confidence motion moved by his successor Champai Soren in the assembly, the JMM executive president also alleged that the Raj Bhavan was instrumental in his arrest after a conspiracy hatched by the Centre.
JMM legislature party leader Champai Soren took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2, after Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in a money laundering case.
“I challenge BJP to prove corruption charges against me. If proved, I will resign from politics,” said Hemant Soren. The ex-chief minister who is in ED custody now was allowed by a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court to participate in the trust vote.
“January 31 was a black chapter in India’s history. A chief minister was arrested at the behest of the Raj Bhavan The BJP doesn’t want a tribal CM to complete 5 years in Jharkhand; they did not allow this even in their regimes,” Hemant Soren said.
Except non-tribal BJP leader Raghubar Das, none of the other 10 previous chief ministers belonging to the saffron party or JMM could complete a full five-year term in the state which was formed in 2000. “However, I will not shed tears now. I will give a befitting reply to the feudal forces at an appropriate time,” Hemant Soren said. Claiming that Tribals would be forced to shun their religion as BR Ambedkar was compelled to convert to Buddhism, he alleged that the BJP considers Tribals “untouchable”.
“Tribals and Dalits are not safe under the present regime in the country I will come back with more strength. Opposition’s conspiracy will be thwarted,” Hemant Soren said.
When the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony at Ayodhya took place on January 22, the BJP had stated it would bring Ram Rajya, he said, adding: First they destabilise the government in Bihar and then in Jharkhand. When the former chief minister reached the assembly, the ruling JMM-led alliance MLAs greeted him with slogans like Hemant Soren zindabad.
