Earlier, when BJP leaders had petitioned Mr. Bais seeking Mr. Soren’s “disqualification” from the Assembly in the office-of-profit case, the ECI had reportedly sent its decision to the Governor on August 25, which sparked a political row in the State. BJP leaders had accused Mr. Soren of awarding the lease of a stone chips mine in his and his younger brother Basant Soren’s name in 2019, at a time when was holding the post of the State’s Mines Minister in a “clear violation” under Section 9(A) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951. Mr. Soren in a strong rebuttal has said the lease of the mine was given to him in 2008 and was to be renewed after 10 years, in 2019.

On September 1, a group of UPA leaders submitted a memorandum to the Governor, requesting him to clear the air over Mr. Soren’s “disqualification”. Mr. Soren later won a trust vote in the Assembly, with 48 MLAs supporting his government.

The ruling coalition UPA has the support of 49 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly. The Opposition BJP has 26 MLAs.

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