EC recommends cancellation of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's Assembly membership

Sources said that the Governor who will reach Ranchi from Delhi in the afternoon is likely to announce the decision of the EC.

Ranchi:The Election Commission (EC) in its letter to Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais has recommended the cancellation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren's Assembly membership in relation to the mining lease case, EC sources told ETV Bharat on Thursday.

According to official sources, the Governor who will reach Ranchi from Delhi in the afternoon is likely to announce the decision of the EC. They further revealed that earlier in the day EC sent its opinion on a plea seeking that Soren be disqualified as an MLA for violating electoral law by extending a mining lease to himself.

The BJP has sought the Chief Minister's disqualification for violating section 9 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, dealing with disqualification for government contracts. As per Article 192 of the Constitution, if any question is raised as to whether a member of a House of the Legislature of a state has become subject to any of the disqualifications, the question shall be referred to the Governor who will take the final call on the issue.

"Before giving any decision on any such question, the Governor shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion," states the article.

Reacting to the development Soren lashed out against the BJP and a section of the media. "CM said, 'It seems BJP leaders including a BJP MP and his puppet journalists themselves drafted ECI report, which is otherwise sealed. Blatant misuse of constitutional authorities and public agencies and its takeover by the BJP Headquarter in a shameful manner is unseen in Indian Democracy,'" stated the Jharkhand CMO.

"The Chief Minister is apprised of several media reports about ECI sending a report to Jharkhand Governor 'apparently recommending his disqualification as an MLA'. No communication in this regard has been received by CMO from either ECI or Governor," it added.

Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Governor said "I do not know anything as of now about any order for me. I had gone to AIIMS for treatment, I can only say anything after I reach Rajbhawan."