Jharkhand Congress and JMM MLAs relocate to Hyderabad

In anticipation of the impending floor test, MLAs from the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition, including newly appointed Chief Minister Champai Soren, have flown to Hyderabad to avoid potential contact from the BJP. The move comes after Champai Soren assumed the Chief Minister's oath, and the coalition was granted 10 days to demonstrate their majority. The decision to relocate is seen as a precautionary measure to prevent any attempts by the BJP to sway the ruling coalition's MLAs. The floor test is scheduled to take place within the stipulated 10-day period.

Meanwhile, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is also the JMM executive president, has been placed under 5-day custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged land scam. Despite Soren's efforts to challenge his arrest in the Supreme Court, the court directed him to approach the relevant High Court. The ED had issued summons to Hemant Soren on January 22 and January 25, accusing him of illegally possessing 8.5 acres of land. The JMM chief has alleged harassment by the ED, claiming misuse of authority by the probe agency at the behest of political influences. In the midst of this, Champai Soren has been sworn in as the new Chief Minister, tasked with proving his government's majority within the next 10 days.