Jharkhand Chief Minister's 3rd Strategy Meet As Disqualification Looms

While holding Chief Minister Hemant Soren guilty in the illegal mining case, the Election Commission, sources told NDTV, has recommended only "disqualification".

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, facing threat of being "disqualified" as an MLA, has called a strategy meeting with his MLAs today - his third meeting in two days - as the Governor studies the recommendations put forth by the Election Commission.

While holding Chief Minister Hemant Soren guilty in the illegal mining case, the Election Commission, sources told NDTV, has recommended only "disqualification".

This means that though Mr Soren will have to resign after the Governor notifies the disqualification order on a gazette, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader can get re-elected in a by-election that has to be held within six months.

"I am not greedy for positions," Mr Soren tweeted on Friday after reports of the action, "But we need to hold constitutional posts to be able to use the system for public welfare." In another tweet, in Hindi, he said, "Since our opponents are unable to match us politically, they are misusing constitutional institutions. But we are not worried... It's the people who gave us the chair... Do what you can; my work for my people can never stop."