The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has relocated 43 of its MLAs outside Jharkhand following Champai Soren's meeting with Governor CP Radhakrishnan to stake a claim to form the state government. Despite having the support of 43 MLAs, there has been no decisive decision by the Governor on Champai's candidature.
"We are going to the airport. You know what kind of people they are; they can do anything anytime. A total of 43 MLAs are going," stated Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur.
"3-4 MLAs will stay in Ranchi to keep a watch here. We have enough numbers to form the government...All 43 MLAs are together, we have full confidence...We will keep meeting the Governor until he calls us to form the Govt..." Rajesh Thakur said.
Amid concerns of poaching from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the JMM leadership chose to move 43 party MLAs to Hyderabad. The Telangana Congress party reportedly made arrangements to receive the 43 JMM MLAs in Hyderabad, with two Volvo buses stationed at Begumpet Airport for transportation to their designated hotel. The buses will then convey the MLAs to Ramoji Film City.
Nearly 18 hours after Hemant Soren resigned as Jharkhand Chief Minister, there has been no decision on the new chief minister of the state. Champai Soren, the newly-elected Leader of the JMM legislative party, met Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday to stake claim to form a government amid the political crisis in the state. Soren was accompanied by JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya. However, no decision was made on his candidature.
"We have demanded that the process to start the formation of the Government should begin. He (Governor) said that the process will begin soon," stated Champai after the meeting. "Currently, we have submitted the report with 43 MLAs in our support. We expect that the number will reach 46-47, so there is no problem. Our 'gathbandhan' is very strong," he added.