Ahead of Monday’s crucial floor test, the governing alliance comprising JMM-Congress-RJD in Jharkhand concluded their ‘resort politics’ Sunday evening, flying their MLAs back to Ranchi well in time. The new CM, Champai Soren, has been granted 10 days by the governor to conduct the floor test after being sworn in this Friday. Opting to hold it on the first day of the assembly’s two-day special session, the session is expected to begin at 11am on Monday. Champai claims the support of 47 MLAs out of 48 in the alliance while staking claim to form the government. The majority of MLAs were shifted to Congress-governed Telangana, but the exact number flown out remained unclear even to the legislators themselves due to tight security. Sources said around 35 MLAs landed in two chartered flights in Ranchi around 8.50pm after a two-day stay in a Hyderabad resort to avert alleged poaching bids by BJP. The BJP camp claimed disinterest in forming government or luring ruling MLAs, citing the less-than-a-year tenure of the current assembly. The alliance remains optimistic about the floor test, anticipating the presence of former CM, Hemant Soren, after a PMLA court allowed him to attend the session. Hemant’s presence is anticipated to address BJP’s accusations ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls this year. Hemant resigned from the CM’s post and was subsequently arrested by ED in a land scam case on January 27. Jharkhand assembly, comprising 82 members with one nominated, has an effective strength of 80 as a JMM MLA had resigned last December. After disembarking, all MLAs were escorted to Ranchi circuit house, where they will spend the night. They will be bussed to the assembly together ahead of Monday’s special session. A Congress MLA expressed relief at returning to Ranchi, saying that even though they were put up in a swanky resort, it felt like jail given the heightened surveillance all around.
Jharkhand: MLAs Flown Back from Hyderabad for Floor Test
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