Governor Ramesh Bais met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah separately during his visit to Delhi on Wednesday. Although, Raj Bhavan sources had dubbed the scheduled meeting as routine affair, but considering the volatile political situation in Jharkhand, political circles remained abuzz with myriad speculations at a time when Opposition BJP has been going hammer and tongs against Hemant Soren led dispensation accusing several charges of corruption and lawlessness.

Home Minister Amit Shah with Ramesh Bais The Telegraph picture

In recent weeks, chief minister himself had come under question of allegedly misusing his position to benefit his near and dear ones in land and mining deals. Two days ago, former chief minister and BJP’s national vice president Raghubar Das accused Soren of misusing his power to benefit his family members and aides. Addressing a press conference, Das claimed that 11 acres of adivasi land was allotted to Sohrai Live Private Limited, which is owned by Hemant’s wife Kalpana, at industrial area in Bijupara under Chanho block in Ranchi for setting of meat processing plant. Das also claimed that 11 acres was allotted to Shivshakti Enterprises for stone mining in Sahebganj district, which is owned by CM’s press adviser Abhishek Prasad and six acres was provided to Mahakal Stone Works at Mari Mauza in Sabehganj, again is owned by CM’s local representative Pankaj Mishra.

Earlier, this month, based on a memo sent from Raj Bhavan to Election Commission of India on the basis of a memorandum submitted to Bais by BJP, Election Commission of India had also sought details from chief secretary Sukhdev Singh about a mining lease in Ranchi which was allegedly sanctioned to chief minister early this year. Notably, mines department is under the chief minister and BJP had dubbed it as a fit case of ‘office of profit’ seeking his dismissal under the Representation of People’s Act, 1951. Governor later recommended the matter to ECI seeking its views on the issue. Meanwhile, a PIL was also filed in Jharkhand high court on CM’s mining lease row and the case is currently subjudice. State government in its affidavit had accepted the allotment as a ‘mistake’ stating that CM had already surrendered it.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which is leading an alliance government on the other hand defended Soren by claiming that BJP’s was propagating false propaganda to topple the government. Earlier this week, JMM also led a delegation to Raj Bhavan urging governor register its protest against BJP and natural justice.

JMM’s central spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharjee denied that there was any case of office of profit. “Office of profit comes into forces if there are any financial dealings. The said mine was inoperative and was also surrendered,” he had said.