The JMM on Thursday demanded a judicial probe into Wednesday evening’s fire in the new Assembly building and pressed for fixing responsibility of government officials who were supposed to keep tabs on the progress made in completion of the building.

“We urge the governor, who is the guardian of the state Assembly, to order a judicial probe by a sitting judge of Jharkhand High Court and also a timeframe should be set for completion of the inquiry,” JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said. “Hard-earned money of people has been wasted in this fire and it should be realised from those who failed in their responsibility.”

The JMM leader also claimed that the “arrogance” of chief minister Raghubar Das led to inauguration of the new building in September this year when even the occupancy certificate had not been issued, and a special session was conducted in the new building even when fire safety measures and water supply were not in place.

“Our leader Hemant Soren had raised this issue even at that time but Raghubar Das due to his arrogance didn’t pay heed to anything and got the building inaugurated in haste,” Bhattacharya said.

He claimed the BJP would be routed in the in the second phase of the Assembly election in which votes will be cast for 20 Assembly seats on December 7, and that Das would be defeated from Jamshedpur East by cabinet-colleague-turned Independent challenger Saryu Roy.

“The margin of defeat would be highest as far as imminent defeat of the chief minister is concerned,” claimed the JMM leader.