Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's office denies receiving communication from EC in mining lease case

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren's secretariat on Thursday issued a statement clarifying that no communication was received from EC or Governor Ramesh Bias after media reports claimed that the Election Commission recommended his disqualification as an MLA in the mining lease case.

No communication in this regard has been received by the Chief Minister's Office from either the Election Commission or Governor Ramesh Bains, reported PTI citing the secretariat.

"It apparently seems that BJP leaders including a BJP MP and his puppet journalists have themselves drafted the ECI report, which is otherwise a sealed cover report," Soren said in a statement issued by his secretariat.


"This blatant misuse of constitutional authorities and public agencies and its complete takeover by BJP HQ in Deendayal Upadhay Marg in this shameful manner is unseen in Indian Democracy," PTI quoted him as saying.

The chief minister is apprised of several media reports about ECI sending a report to the governor "apparently recommending his disqualification as a MLA", his office said.

The Election Commission on Thursday sent its opinion to Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais regarding a plea that seeks chief minister Hemant Soren's disqualification as an MLA for violating electoral law by extending a mining lease to himself, reported PTI citing sources.

The opinion was sent to the Jharkhand Raj Bhavan in a sealed cover this morning, they said. Bais had referred the matter to the poll panel.

The BJP, who is the petitioner in this case, has sought Soren's disqualification for violating section 9 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals with disqualification for government contracts.

Under Article 192 of the Constitution, if any question arises as to whether a member of a House of the Legislature of a state has become subject to any of the disqualifications, the question shall be referred to the governor whose decision shall be final.

"Before giving any decision on any such question, the Governor shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion," it reads.

While dealing with such cases, the poll panel functions as a quasi-judicial body.

The governor is scheduled to reach Ranchi from Delhi in the afternoon and only then details could be known, Raj Bhavan sources said.


(With inputs from PTI)