2 February 2024
Sandeep Dhand ( Ludhiana )
In a dramatic turn of events, opposition parties led by the Congress staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha today, protesting the political turmoil unfolding in Jharkhand. The focal point of their discontent revolves around the demand for an interim arrangement by the Governor to govern the state following the resignation of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren from the position of Chief Minister.
Leader of Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge drew parallels with the neighboring state of Bihar, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar swiftly resigned in the morning only to reclaim his position by evening. Kharge expressed dismay that despite Soren’s resignation and the submission of a letter with the support of 47 MLAs for his successor, Governor CP Radhakrishnan had yet to make any arrangements to run the government.
Under the current constitutional setup, an interim arrangement is typically made by the Governor after the Chief Minister’s resignation. This arrangement involves entrusting the responsibility to the resigning Chief Minister or another individual until a replacement is identified. Kharge highlighted that despite a letter of support from 47 MLAs, the newly elected Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader, Champai Soren, had not been invited by the Governor to form the government even after approximately 20 hours of waiting.
Kharge questioned the disparity between the swift political developments in Bihar and the delay in Jharkhand, stating, “What happened in Bihar, why not in Jharkhand? If in Bihar, resignation, acceptance of support, and the swearing-in ceremony can occur within 12 hours, then why not in Jharkhand? It is shameful.”
The Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Leader of the House, countered by pointing out a significant land scam in Jharkhand, attributing Soren’s resignation to corruption on a large scale. Goyal accused the Congress of defending the Chief Minister despite the alleged corruption.
Shifting the focus to national politics, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Rajya Sabha session. Kharge expressed concern that the Prime Minister might one day claim to be the ‘most popular,’ rendering democracy and elections unnecessary. Participating in the debate on the vote of thanks on the President’s speech, Kharge accused the government of adopting a biased attitude towards the opposition, alleging the misuse of central agencies to coerce members to defect. He warned that such actions could erode people’s trust in democracy.
Kharge remarked, “I don’t know when the Prime Minister will announce the final elections. The Prime Minister will claim that he is too popular and there is no need for democracy.”
As the political landscape in Jharkhand remains uncertain, the walkout in the Rajya Sabha underscores the deepening rift between the opposition and the ruling party, fueling concerns about the health of democracy and the timely functioning of governmental processes.