VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Aug 26: The office of the Governor of Jharkhand is learnt to be deliberating upon the issue whether Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren obtaining a mining lease in his name is an act of corruption under the definition of Prevention of the Corruption Act.
Well placed sources claimed that the opinion of the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta too has been sought in this matter and meetings have also taken place. It is also being looked into as law prescribes debar from contesting elections for a specific period.
Sources claimed the matter is being legally examined before the Governor communicates to Hemant Soren whether or not he stands disqualified. If it happens it will aggravate the problem for Hemant Soren who is facing imminent disqualification as the MLA of Jharkhand assembly. Following the disqualification he will have to step down as the Chief Minister of the state.
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In fact, the silence of the office of Jharkhand Governor over the disqualification issue of state Chief Minister Hemant Soren has put the UPA alliance on the tenterhook.
The Election Commission of India is understood to have sent its report to the Governor Ramesh Bais where it declared Hemant Soren disqualified under section 9 A of the People’s Representation Act for obtaining a stone mining lease in his name.
“Why so much secrecy,” asked a senior MLA of the ruling alliance. “Good or bad the ECI order may be…the office of the Governor should clear the picture now. If the BJP leaders are wise people they should make the ECI recommendation public by today itself. But I just wonder whether this is going to end as a poor political comedy of the BJP,” the MLA said.
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But the reality is that the Hemant Soren led ruling alliance is groping in darkness because they don’t know about ECI judgment and its extent and ramification. The silence of the office of the Governor has further worried them.
Hemant Soren has also kept his legal battery on the standby so that the negative ECI order is promptly challenged before the Supreme Court.
MLAs meeting scheduled in late evening
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren left for Netarhat in Latehar district to attend an official programme. He is scheduled to return in the evening when he will chair the next round of meeting of MLAs.
