EC recommends Jharkhand CM’s assembly disqualification in office-of-profit row

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has written back to Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais recommending disqualification of chief minister Hemant Soren from the assembly.

“The ECI has recommended disqualification of Soren. Now it’s up to the Governor what call he takes on the ECI’s opinion,” a senior official said.

The Jharkhand governor had sought ECI’s opinion over a complaint received from the state opposition BJP that chief minister Soren should be disqualified from the assembly as he allegedly holds an office-of-profit by getting a stone chips mining lease in his name.

While the top government sources confirmed the ECI has sent its recommendations, they refused to share the details of the opinion rendered to the Governor as yet.

“The content could be shared only after it is processed by the Governor’s office,” an official who was not willing to be named said.

Governor Ramesh Bais, who is in the national Capital since Monday on a personal visit, is due to return to Ranchi on Thursday, an official said.

The ECI recommendation is keenly awaited by ruling UPA alliance as well as opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it could have political ramifications for the UPA government in Jharkhand.

The ECI recommendations come following a detailed hearing by the bench chaired by the chief election commissioner, where lawyers of both BJP and Soren presented their case.

The matter was raised by former chief minister Raghubar Das on February 10 this year.

A BJP delegation led by Das and the current legislature party leader Babulal Marandi had also met the governor on February 11, seeking disqualification under Section 9A of the Representation of People’s Act 1952 and removal of Soren as chief minister.

The governor had forwarded the complaint to the ECI which first issued a notice to the chief secretary, seeking all documents related to the grant of mining lease to Soren.

Following authentication of the documents, the election body on 2 May issued a notice to Soren, who himself holds the mining portfolio.