Bhupesh Baghel Anticipates ED Raids, Jharkhand Governor Visits Delhi

This comes a day after ruling UPA MLAs urged him to clarify EC's recommendation on the matter.

Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ @HemantSorenJMM)

Even as speculations are rife about the continuation of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren as MLA and the brewing political crisis in the state, Governor Ramesh Bais went to Delhi on Friday, 2 September.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed that his state will soon witness raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax (I-T) department as MLAs of the ruling coalition, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), in neighbouring Jharkhand are staying in a resort near Raipur.

In an effort to avoid poaching of MLAs by the BJP similar to Maharashtra, as many as 32 MLAs of the ruling coalition were, on 30 August, taken to a resort in the capital of Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh.

Friday's developments come a day after ruling UPA MLAs urged him to clarify the Election Commission's (EC)'s recommendation on the matter of Soren's disqualification.

Bais' visit to Delhi has further triggered speculations as he had on Thursday promised the UPA delegation that he would clear all doubts regarding the same.

Sources from the Raj Bhavan have however said it was a 'personal visit' for a medical check-up.

'Necessary to Protect Democracy'

Talking to reporters, Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying it does not have faith in democracy.

“The BJP does not have faith in democracy. Jharkhand (ruling coalition) MLAs are staying in Raipur and we have welcomed them. Now, the BJP is protesting against it. My well-wishers have informed me that soon the state will see raids by the ED and I-T because we have stationed Jharkhand MLAs here to protect democracy,” Baghel said, news agency PTI reported.

He added, “It is a small contribution (towards saving democracy). They (MLAs of Jharkhand) could have gone anywhere, but they came to Chhattisgarh. I was well aware that if I would invite them to stay here then the state would face action by the ED and I-T. But it is necessary to protect democracy."

Background

Following a petition by the Bharatiya Janata Party seeking Soren's disqualification from the Assembly in an office of profit case, the Election Commission (EC) sent its decision to the state governor on 25 August, sparking a political crisis in the state.

Even though the EC's decision has not yet been made public, there is a buzz that the poll panel has decided to disqualify Soren as MLA.

In a joint statement on 28 August, UPA constituents had accused Bais of encouraging political horse-trading by "deliberately delaying" announcing the decision.

Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is of the opinion that BJP may poach MLAs from the party as well as from its ally the Congress.

However, The UPA has asserted that disqualification of the CM as an MLA will not affect the government, as the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD coalition enjoys an absolute majority in the 81-member House.

The JMM, the largest party, has 30 MLAs, the Congress 18 legislators, and the RJD one. The main opposition BJP has 26 MLAs in the House.

(With inputs from PTI.)