Jharkhand political crisis: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday met Congress's state in-charge, Avinash Pandey, amid the looming political crisis in the state. The Election Commission (EC) is believed to have sent a missive to Governor Ramesh Bais, recommending the disqualification of Soren as a legislator in the mining lease case.
"It was a courtesy meeting. They had a one-on-one meeting... But, when two big leaders of parties meet, they discuss current politics and its future," said Congress minister Alamgir Alam.
Meanwhile, Congress has sent a letter to speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, seeking disqualification of its three MLAs -- Irfan Ansari, Naman Bixal Kongari and Rajesh Kachhap under the anti-defection law.
The three MLAs were arrested in Howrah by the West Bengal Police on July 30 with cash, with the Congress claiming that they were paid to topple the JMM-led coalition government in the state.
The speaker has sought a reply from the three MLAs by September 1, assembly officials said. Meanwhile, assembly sources said that the speaker may take a call on a case pertaining to anti-defection charges against BJP legislator and former chief minister Babulal Marandi.
The speaker had initiated the anti-defection proceedings in December 2020 after Marandi merged his Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) with the BJP in February that year and was unanimously elected the leader of the BJP legislative party.
