The new JMM government led by Champai Soren will face the floor test on Monday. While the JMM is confident of numbers, the Opposition BJP claims the coalition was set to lose the vote of confidence.
JMM lawmaker Mithilesh Thakur said the JMM-led coalition will sail through the trust vote. The party has already released a video claiming the support of 43 legislators. In the 81-member assembly, the majority mark is 41. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has 28 seats while its ally Congress has 16. The RJD and the CPI(ML) have one seat each.
"Many BJP legislators are also in support of the alliance in the state," Thakur claimed.
The MLAs of Jharkhand's JMM-led alliance were moved to Hyderabad ahead of the vote. They returned to Ranchi from Hyderabad on Sunday evening.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh too has expressed confidence in winning the test. "We have a majority in the 81-seat Assembly...Even Hemant Soren has been permitted by the special court (to cast his vote). This is a conspiracy by the ED. We will win the floor test. It has been clear from the start that the Modi government has been misusing the ED, CBI and Income Tax departments against the INDIA members. They are no longer independent institutions," Ramesh said.
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand High Court will hear the petition filed by former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, challenging his arrest by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday. The High Court had granted the ED five-day custody of Soren in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, a special court in Ranchi granted Hemant Soren permission to take part in the special session for a trust vote. Soren pleaded before the court that he was a member of the assembly and had a right to participate in the special session.
"Applicant (Soren) is, therefore, filing the present Application seeking an order from this Hon'ble Court to permit the Applicant to attend the Special Session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly and participate in the proceedings of the Floor Test slated for February 5 at 11 AM," the petition said.
Hemant Soren had also moved the Supreme Court, challenging his arrest. The top court on Friday refused to interfere with his arrest and asked him to approach the high court.
