Ranchi: The Champai Soren government in Jharkhand won the floor test on Monday, the first day of the two-day assembly session. The ruling JMM-Congress alliance secured 47 votes while 29 MLAs voted against it.
State minister Alamgir Alam had on Sunday said, "Our MLAs are united and we have the support of 48 to 50 legislators in the 81-member assembly". A video, released by the coalition last week claimed that it has the support of 43 legislators.
The alliance among the JMM, Congress and the RJD has 47 MLAs, and it is supported from outside by a lone CPIML(L) legislator. Meanwhile, the arrested former chief minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren on Monday challenged the BJP to prove the corruption charges against him, asserting that if the accusations are proven, he will quit politics.
Taking part in the confidence motion moved by his successor Champai Soren in the assembly, the JMM executive president also alleged that the Raj Bhavan was instrumental in his arrest after a "conspiracy" was hatched by the Centre.
JMM legislature party leader Champai Soren took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2, after Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in a money laundering case. "I challenge BJP to prove corruption charges against me. If proved, I will resign from politics," said Hemant Soren.
The ex-chief minister who is in ED custody now was allowed by a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court to participate in the trust vote.
(With PTI inputs)
