Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren,who has only three months left to become member of the state assembly as per constitutional provision,was today reminded by an opposition leader about his failure to become an MLA last time following defeat in Tamar bypoll.
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric-LP) leader Pradip Yadav wanted to know in the state assembly whether Soren had any plans to become a member of the house or not.
To this,Soren said,I am seriously pondering over and will soon take a decision on it.
Quoting a provision of article 164 (IV) of the constitution that any member of the council of ministers has to get elected as an MLA within six months,Yadav demanded a reply in yes or no instead of saying he would ponder over.
Yes,I will become a member, replied Soren during the question hour. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Soren became the chief minister on December 30 with the support of BJP and AJSU.
Yadav also reminded Soren how he had failed to become a member last time.
Soren,who has the distinction of becoming Jharkhand chief minister thrice without being a member of the assembly,had lost a bypoll in Tamar last year. He stayed only for nine days as chief minister in 2005.
Someone in the JMM or in his coalition has to vacate a seat to enable Soren contest a bypoll as there is no vacancy in all 81 seats in the state.
Sorens son Hemant (Dumka) and daughter-in-law Sita Soren (Jama) are among the 18 JMM MLAs in the house.