Champai Soren meets Jharkhand Governor, 39 MLAs stay back after flight cancelled

Jharkhand minister Champai Soren, who has staked claim to form the government in the state after the arrest of Hemant Soren, on Thursday met Governor CP Radhakrishnan.

Champai Soren claimed the majority to form the government and said the Governor would take the decision soon. Champai Soren was accompanied by Congress legislative party leader Alamgir Alam, RJD MLA Satyanand Bhokta, CPI (ML) L legislator Vinod Singh and lawmaker Pradeep Yadav.

Before Champai Soren went to meet the Governor, the ruling coalition of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and Rashtriya Lok Dal released a video of the 43 Opposition MLAs in support of Champai Soren.

However, after Champai Soren’s meeting with the Governor yielded no result, 39 coalition MLAs prepared to fly to Hyderabad, including Hemant Soren’s brother and MLA Basant Soren. However, the flight could not take off due to poor weather and low visibility.

On his meeting with the Governor, Champai Soren said, “It’s been 22 hours since we have claimed majority to form the government. The Governor says he will take the decision soon.”

JMM MP Mahua Maji said, “It’s been more than 22 hours. You saw in Bihar that oath-taking ceremony took place within five hours. Their intentions are being doubted.”

Champai Soren became the new leader of the JMM legislative party after Hemant Soren resigned on Wednesday night as the chief minister by the ED in a money laundering case and his subsequent arrest.