THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Jan. 2: The ‘Lifafa’ and the ED were the driving factors behind the resignation of Gandey JMM MLA Dr Sarfaraz Ahmad.
The ‘lifafa’ (the envelope the Governor received from the Election Commission on the issue of holding an office-of-profit in the mining lease case) has been with the Governor’s secretariat since 2022. It is more than a year that this ‘Lifafa’ haunts Chief Minister Hemant Soren like any nightmare.
The ED keeps issuing summons after summons. The ED’s summons creates as many ripples as it is being left unanswered by Hemant Soren, creating a stir.
A day after JMM MLA Dr Sarfaraz Ahmed quit the membership of the Jharkhand Assembly, he spoke to The Jharkhand Story correspondent. Excerpts:
Q: Does the ‘lifafa’ with the Governor keep Hemant Soren scared daily?
A: Yes, the ‘Lifafa’ is there. All eyes are on it.
Q: What kind of ‘jinn’ is feared to come out of the Lifafa?
A: There may be two things. The Lifafa may cause Hemant Soren to lose his membership in the assembly. The second is that Lifafa may debar him from contesting the election.
Q: If membership is gone, then?
A: My vacant seat is there for Hemant Soren. He will contest and win.
Q: But what if Hemant Soren is debarred from contesting the election?
A: In that event, my vacant seat will also find Kalpana Soren contesting and winning it.
Q: Is there any distant possibility of imposing the President’s Rule?
A: Not at all. It will take a lot of work to impose the President’s Rule.
Q: Will any Kalpana Soren nomination mean a vertical JMM split?
A: The JMM stands united. There is Guruji. Baba (Shibu Soren) is an excellent cementing force in the party.
Q: Why did you sacrifice your seat? There was the seat of Stephen Marandi.
A: Stephen Marandi is a gentleman politician. His seat was there. But here, Kalpana Soren’s problems would have been enormous.
Q: You apprehend the arrest of Hemant Soren by ED?
A: I will wonder about the wisdom of the BJP if it would like to have Hemant Soren arrested. It will backfire upon the BJP. Hemant Soren will emerge from his arrest more powerful. There will be an avalanche of Adivasi and Jharkhand sentiments for Hemant Soren.
Q: Have you put forward any condition or compensation for your sacrifice for leaving Gandey’s seat?
A: No. It is unconditional. I have not asked for anything instead of resigning my seat. It is up to them (read Hemant Soren) to think about.
Q: How confident are you that your resignation has prevented BJP from pursuing its design?
A: My resignation has upset the BJP. There is a definite threat to this government. I have carved out a path for the government to make itself safe and stable.
Q: There is uncertainty in the state?
A: Yes, it is. This is where I put my best foot forward to bail out my leader, Hemant Soren.
Q: What was your mental condition when you put in your papers?
A: I was relaxed and calm. I had the satisfaction of going the extra mile to save this government. My move has checked the BJP most. It must be mulling over its next move.
