JMM, Cong MLAs back in J'khand ahead of floor test

Thirty-five legislators of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress alliance, who were camping in Hyderabad, returned to Ranchi on Sunday, a day before the newly formed Champai Soren government is scheduled to prove its majority in the state assembly on Monday.

- Vishal Kant

Champai Soren took oath as chief minister on Friday after a dramatic arrest of his predecessor Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over money laundering allegations two days earlier. An hour after the swearing-in ceremony, the chief minister held his first cabinet meeting, after which 35 lawmakers were sent to Hyderabad to prevent any possible attempts by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to lure members of the ruling alliance to its fold.

The legislators arrived at the Circuit House in Ranchi where they will be stationed together overnight before leaving for the assembly on Monday morning, people aware of the details said.

"Our MLAs are united... We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators," minister Alamgir Alam said.

In the assembly, the ruling alliance appears comfortably placed.

In the 81-member assembly, the coalition that includes the JMM, Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) has 48 seats while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has 32, of which the BJP holds 26. One seat is vacant.

A special court in Ranchi on Saturday also allowed former chief minister Hemant Soren to attend the floor test on Monday.