SC to hear Soren's plea, Champai to be next CM

Jharkhand governor CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday invited Champai Soren, the leader of the state's ruling coalition, to take oath as the next chief minister in a late-night development that resolved the instability convulsing the state after former CM Hemant Soren's arrest.

- Vishal Kant

Radhakrishnan called transport minister Champai Soren and Congress legislature party leader Alamgir Alam, and handed over the letter to form the next government.

"They have been asked to form the government. They will take oath tomorrow (Friday). The government has been asked to prove a majority in 10 days," an official said, requesting anonymity.

Hemant Soren, who was sent to one day in judicial custody by a court in Ranchi over money-laundering allegations, also approached the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing. His petition against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will be heard by a three-judge top court bench on Friday morning.

Champai Soren, who was elected the new leader of the ruling coalition on Wednesday hours before Hemant Soren's arrest, said that he told Radhakrishnan that he enjoyed the support of 43 legislators, a majority in the House with a current strength of 80, with one seat vacant.

The 67-year-old met the governor at 5.30pm, accompanied by Congress leaders Alamgir Alam and Pradeep Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal lawmaker Satyanand Bhokta, and Left leader Binod Singh.

He said he had already submitted letters of support. "Our alliance is very strong. No one can break it," he asserted.

As the state capital remained tense about the government with some leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party making belligerent comments about the alliance losing a majority in the assembly, the ruling coalition first announced that it will shift 43 lawmakers to Hyderabad.

But the plan was temporarily shelved as fog enveloped the airport, grounding the flight.