The Jharkhand assembly on Monday passed the confidence motion tabled by Chief Minister Hemant Soren amid a walkout staged by BJP legislators. As many as 48 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion in the 81-member Assembly.
Speaking during the one-day special session, Soren said the need for trust vote was felt as BJP was "attempting to destabilise democratically elected governments" in non-BJP ruled states, including Jharkhand. He alleged that the BJP was trying to create a "civil war-like situation in country by fuelling riots to win elections".
Soren sought the trust vote amid speculation that he could be disqualified in an office of profit case. Though the EC's decision has not yet been made official, there is a buzz that the poll panel has recommended the chief minister's disqualification as an MLA. Both JMM and Congress fear that BJP may attempt to topple the government as they did in Maharashtra and to prevent poaching of MLAs, they were taken to Chattisgarh.
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. To prevent poaching of legislators, UPA MLAs were taken to a resort in Raipur on August 30 and they returned to Jharkhand only on Sunday.
(With inputs from PTI)
