Amid political turmoil, Jharkhand ruling alliance to face floor test on February 5

PAKUR: The Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Jharkhand, led by chief minister Champai Soren, is set to undergo a floor test on February 5, according to Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir.

Mir, the Congress in-charge of Jharkhand, said on Saturday that the MLAs will stay at a 'protected place' until the floor test takes place.

Several legislators from the ruling alliance, who had traveled to Hyderabad following the swearing-in, are currently residing at a private resort in Hyderabad, Telangana, ahead of upcoming floor test in the Assembly.

This move is seen as an effort by the ruling coalition to keep its members together and prevent any attempts by the opposition BJP to lure them away.

"It's unthinkable and unprecedented for a sitting chief minister to step down and hand the reins to a party colleague. The entire coalition unanimously picked Hemant Soren's successor and formally proposed his name as the next chief minister to the Governor. We are thankful to the Governor for allowing the oath-taking ceremony to take place yesterday. The alliance will be invited for a floor test in the Assembly on February 5. Till then, all our MLAs will remain in a protected place," the Congress leader said on the sidelines of the Congress's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which is currently in its Jharkhand leg.

The Assembly will convene for a two-day session on February 5.

Amidst the political turmoil in the state, triggered by the arrest of former CM Hemant Soren by the Directorate of Enforcement in an alleged land scam case, Champai Soren, a leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party, took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi. Alongside Soren, Congress' Alamgir Alam and RJD's Satyanand Bhokta also took the oath as ministers in the Jharkhand cabinet.

Jharkhand governor CP Radhakrishnan invited Champai Soren to Raj Bhavan on Thursday to form the government in the state.

Champai Soren, a loyalist of JMM leader Hemant Soren, along with 43 legislators, met Jharkhand governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday, asserting their claim to form the government in the state.

Champai Soren is a seven-time MLA, and he represents the Seraikella constituency in Jharkhand. He was an independent MLA before joining the JMM.