‘No conflict between JMM, Congress’, says Jharkhand CM Champai Soren as discontent brews in Congress camp

#WATCH | Delhi: Jharkhand CM Champai Soren says “After forming our Govt in Jharkhand, this is the first time I have come here. I will meet Mallikarjun Khage today…”

On being asked about Congress MLAs, he says “This is an internal matter of the Congress party, they will solve… pic.twitter.com/Z4aypc849o

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024

A day after eight MLAs were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers in Jharkhand, a section of Congress legislators were discontent over the induction of four party MLAs as ministers in the Soren-led JMM government. The Indian Express previously reported that the legislators left for New Delhi on Saturday night to take up the matter with the party leadership.

As per sources, the eight MLAs who were flying to Delhi are Irfan Ansari, Bhushan Bada, Kumar Jaimangal, Rajesh Kacchap, Amba Prasad, Dipika Pandey, Sonaram Sinku and Umashankar Akela.

Meanwhile, JMM legislator Baidyanath Ram on Sunday said his exclusion from the cabinet “at the last moment” has “hurt his dignity and he will not sit silently”, reported PTI.

The MLA from Latehar also added that his exclusion has “hurt the sentiments” of his SC community, who have called a meeting at his residence in the afternoon to decide the future course of action.

Champai Soren took over as the CM of Jharkhand in the midst of a political storm, after former CM Hemant Soren was arrested in a land scam case on January 31.

In the 11-member Champai Soren cabinet, there are only two new faces – Basant Soren, JMM supremo Shibu Soren’s youngest son, and JMM’s Chaibasa MLA Deepak Birua. While eight were sworn in on Friday, the CM and two others- Alamgir Alam of Congress and Satyanand Bhokta of RJD – took oath on February 2.