Tightrope walk for Soren ahead of trust vote

IANS/Ranchi

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will seek a trust vote in the assembly today with two of his legislators absconding at a time when every vote will count.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government suffered a setback yesterday when the Jharkhand High Court dismissed a petition of party legislator and former minister Nalin Soren to quash the arrest warrant against him.

Another legislator, Sita Soren, is absconding in a 2012 case involving buying of votes in the Rajya Sabha.

The Soren government was formed on July 13. Soren was asked by Goeror Syed Ahmad to prove his majority within a week. A special assembly session has been convened today.

In the 82-seat assembly, Soren will need the support of at least 42 legislators.

Soren handed a letter of support of 43 legislators to the governor. They include 18 of the JMM, 13 of Congress, five of the RJD, seven legislators of smaller parties or independents.

The seven include Arup Chatterji of the Marxist Co-ordination Committee (MCC), Enos Ekka of the Jharkhand Party, Bandhu Tirkey, Geeta Koda, wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, Videsh Singh, Chamra Linda and Harinarayan Rai.

Independent legislators Bandhu Tirkey and Chamra Linda are seeking to become ministers in return for their support.

Political experts say the trust vote will be tightrope walk for Soren.

The BJP is already gloating that the Soren government will fall today. “Today will be last day for this government,” said BJP state president Rabibdra Rai.

However, the JMM is confident. “We will win the trust vote,” said JMM’s Hemlal Murmu.