Summary:
Ranchi, Oct 28 (PTI) Two days after Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais said that that he sought a "second opinion" in the office-of-profit case involving Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the ruling JMM said that the state"s constitutional head had been making "confusing statements" in the matter.
Rajya Sabha MP and JMM spokesperson Mahua Maji also said that Bais, as a governor, should maintain a stance that was above party and politics.
Bais had on Wednesday said that he has asked for a second opinion to avoid getting fingers pointed at him, but did not clarify who did he seek it from.
He also claimed that an "atom bomb could explode any time in Jharkhand", apparently indicating towards the pending decision in the matter.
Maji, talking to PTI, said, "The governor is the constitutional head; his post is highly revered.
It is above party or politics.
Therefore statements should also be made in line with constitutional norms." The ruling BJP had been demanding dismissal of Soren in the office-of-profit case.
The issue was referred to the governor and by him to the Election Commission, as Article 192 of the Constitution states that on rulings regarding an MLA"s disqualification, the question shall be referred to the governor who in turn "shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion".
Though the EC"s opinion has not yet been made official, sources in Raj Bhavan said the poll panel has recommended the CM"s disqualification as an MLA.
"The EC"s letter of recommendation arrived long back...A UPA delegation had gone to meet the governor, requesting him to make public the poll panel’s opinion.
The CM, too, visited him.
Media persons from across country were camping here then.
But nothing was revealed," the JMM leader recalled.
Maji said the statement made by Bais on Wednesday "added to the confusion".
"Earlier the governor had claimed the envelope (by Election Commission) was too tight to open, and now this...