CM Soren chairs UPA meet, tells MLAs not to fall for BJP’s ‘lies’

Ranchi: Amid the prediction by opposition BJP that chief minister Hemant Soren will be disqualified after the EC ruling against him over the office-of-profit case, Soren chaired an “urgent” meeting of all UPA MLAs at his official residence and assured to look into their demands. Notably, over a dozen lawmakers from JMM and Congress were absent during the meeting.
During the meeting, which is described by political observers as an attempt by Soren to keep his flock together ahead of the EC ruling likely to be announced next week, the chief minister said a cabinet meeting is scheduled on August 24 to take a call on the impending drought-like situation in the state.
He also promised the MLAs that a dedicated toll-free number will be set up exclusively for them so that they can raise their immediate grievances from their constituencies. The grievances would be resolved within 24 hours, Soren promised.
Asking the lawmakers not to fall for the “lies” of BJP, the chief minister asked them to connect with the masses and spread the good work done by their government.
Soren decided to set up the toll-free number after several MLAs aired their views of the government, its functioning and their grievances in their respective constituencies among others.
Earlier this week, the EC wrapped up its hearing in connection with the illegal mine allotment case involving Soren and reserved its judgment, which could be pronounced anytime. It has been keeping the government on tenterhooks but the BJP has already predicted that Soren will be disqualified.
However, Congress denied Saturday’s meeting was called to discuss the pending “political crisis” though JMM remained silent.
Of the 49 MLAs in the ruling camp, three Congress lawmakers — Shilpi Rani Tirkey (Mandar), Purnima Singh (Jharia) and Mamta Devi (Ramgarh) — didn’t attend the meeting while three other Congress MLAs — Irfan Ansari (Jamtara), Naman Bixal Kongari (Kolebira) and Rajesh Kachchap (Khijiri) — now suspended and facing charges of making efforts to topple the Soren government did not attend. All three were arrested by West Bengal police with cash and sent to them jail.
Irfan came out of the jail on Saturday after securing bail earlier this week but is barred to leave Kolkata by the Calcutta high court.
Talking to TOI, the leader of the Congress legislative party and rural development minister, Alamgir Alam, said the three party MLAs, who were absent in the meeting, had informed in advance about their prior engagements. On the meeting, he said, “It was to discuss drought and other concerns of MLAs and government works etc. No political discussions were on the plate.”
Alam added that the cabinet will take up the drought issue in its August 24 meeting. “The CM has asked the agriculture minister to get reports of rainfall and sowing from all districts and prepare a note. It will be taken up during the cabinet meeting. He added that the government is stable enough and with the CM’s promise of the toll-free number, any grievances of the MLAs would be resolved without hassles.
State Congress party president Rajesh Thakur, too, denied that the meeting had anything to do with the “political crisis”, which he said, is the speculation of the media. “Besides drought, concerns were raised on various other sectors like strengthening of government hospitals and schools among others,” he said.