Hemant Soren's Fate Hangs In Balance As He Awaits Disqualification in Mining Lease Case

The Chief Minister of Jharkhand and the working president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Hemant Soren is looking at impending disqualification as an MLA of the Jharkhand assembly following charges of corruption.

The Election Commission has sent its opinion to Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais on a plea seeking that Chief Minister Hemant Soren be disqualified as an MLA for violating electoral law by extending a mining lease to himself.

The opinion was sent to the Jharkhand Raj Bhavan in a sealed cover this morning, as per reports.

What happened?

• Soren got a lease for mining in 0.88 acres of land in Angara Block of Ranchi a few years ago.

• He applied for environment clearance on 9 September 2021, and the clearance was granted by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority on 18 September 2021.

• The approval came when he was holding both the mining and environment portfolios, which raised suspicion.

• The mining lease was subsequently cancelled when his predecessor and BJP national vice-president Raghubar Das sought his disqualification as an MLA, but the damage was already done.

• The BJP complained to Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais, who sought the Election Commission of India’s opinion under Article 192 of the Constitution on whether Soren can be disqualified from membership of the state Assembly.

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) was to take a call on granting an opportunity to Soren to be heard in the case. Ultimately, it is the EC which has to recommend to the Jharkhand Governor if Soren should be disqualified or not.

• The ECI, it is learnt, examined if the grant of a mining licence and the hasty environment clearance granted to him constitutes an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act and attracts his disqualification from membership of the state Assembly.

What Next?

Disqualification of Hemant Soren would destabilise the government and the process of finding his successor would create deep fissures within the party.

Though Hemant Soren’s brother Basant, who is also an MLA, will be the primary claimant for the top post, he is a novice in politics and a first-time MLA without any administrative experience.

A few senior JMM leaders and ministers consider themselves to be the rightful claimants to that post.