India: Jharkhand CM Champai Soren wins crucial floor test with 47 MLAs

A floor test in the Indian state of Jharkhand took place on Monday (Feb 5) with Chief Minister Champai Soren's government securing the support of 47 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The trust vote of the government started with former chief minister Hemant Soren reaching the state assembly to take part in the process.

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Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged land scam case. Soren, the president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was allowed to take part in the floor test by a special court in Ranchi.

In the Jharkhand assembly, the INDIA alliance has 47 seats while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 32 seats. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which is part of the INDIA, has 28 seats.

Here's a look at the top updates:

>Champai Soren's government has won the floor test after 47 MLAs supported him. According to Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, a total of 47 votes were received in favour of the confidence motion and 29 against it.

>"This House passes the trust vote," Speaker Mahato said before adjourning the House till 11 am on Tuesday.

>CM Champai moved the confidence motion in the assembly and said that the Modi government at the Centre was misusing its agencies.

>"Today the whole country is seeing how injustice is being done to Hemant Soren. If you go to any village, you will find Hemant Soren's schemes in every house...," CM Champai told the assembly.

>JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya had expressed confidence in winning the floor test and claimed that his party would get a minimum of 47 MLAs' support.

>Ahead of the floor test, authorities imposed Section 144 near the Jharkhand legislative assembly in Ranchi.

>Hemant Soren arrived at the assembly to take part in the floor test, and so did the MLAs of the JMM-led alliance who were earlier shifted to Hyderabad by the alliance to prevent poaching.

>On the MLAs being shifted to Hyderabad, JMM MLA Lobin Hembrom told ANI, "What was the need to go there (Hyderabad)? If we are united then we should stay here..."

>Reacting to the Champai Soren government's victory, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "There was no doubt. We were saying beforehand that we would win this Trust Vote with a good majority. 47 MLAs were in support."

>"BJP's attempts of first arresting Hemant Soren, then delaying Champai Soren's oath for two days...have all been foiled. BJP has failed and our coalition government will go on for a year. After that, we will once again ask for people's mandate based on our work," Ramesh added.

(With inputs from agencies)