EC to issue notification on Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's disqualification as MLA: Reports

BJP had accused Soren of acquiring a mining lease that is equivalent to holding an "office of profit" and sought his disqualification on the grounds. Alleging violation of Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act, BJP approached the Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais, who in turn forwarded it to the Election Commission as required under Article 192 of the Constitution.

The Governor, who is bound to follow the opinion of the EC, which acts as a quasi-judicial body in such matters, forwarded the matter to it.

Media reports said that the EC sent its opinion to the Governor on Wednesday.

The development emerged just hours after Hemant Soren held an emergency meeting of legislators and ministers of his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Grand Alliance government at his residence in Ranchi to discuss the political crisis in the state.

In order to remain the chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren will have to resign, contest bypoll, get reelected as an MLA and ensure that the MLAs of the alliance nominate him as the CM.

The EC concluded the hearing of both parties on Monday and sent its report to the Governor's office on Tuesday. The report was received the next day at Raj Bhawan.

On August 12, Hemant Soren's team concluded its arguments after which BJP filed its rejoinder.

His team claimed that Soren's mining lease did not fall under the purview of the office of profit rules as he got the 10-year lease in 2008 when he was not the chief minister.

On August 18, both sides filed their written submissions.

Reports said that the Raj Bhavan had earlier notified that the Governor was likely to take a call on EC's opinion on the "disqualification" of Hemant Soren today.