Vishal Kant works as an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times. He tracks developments in Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi government. Vishal has spent about a decade covering the city politics and governance, besides writing on Delhi’s civic issues, urban transport and infrastructure.
Articles by Vishal Kant
Office of profit case: Soren urges EC for copy of opinion amid uncertainty
In a letter to ECI secretary on Thursday, Hemant Soren’s counsel Vaibhav Tomar argued that the proceedings in the election body were judicial and that therefore, a copy of the opinion should be shared with his client.
Updated on Sep 17, 2022 04:45 AM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Office-of-profit row: CM Soren now asks EC for copy of its opinion
On Thursday, Hemant Soren’s counsel Vaibhav Tomar wrote to the EC, arguing that its proceedings were judicial and hence a copy be shared with his client since the poll panel had already sent its opinion (recording the outcome of inquiry) on the matter to the Governor after several round of hearings.
Published on Sep 16, 2022 09:52 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Section of Jharkhand Congress threatens to protest against domicile policy
Jharkhand Congress working president and Singhbhum Lok Sabha MP Geeta Kora on Thursday asked the state government to reconsider the decision.
Published on Sep 15, 2022 11:51 PM IST
Soren meets Guv, seeks copy of EC letter, a chance to defend himself
In a memorandum submitted to Governor, the chief minister alleged that the BJP was using the delay on part of Raj Bhawan in making public the EC opinion to create confusion among the masses about the future of his assembly membership and his government.
Published on Sep 15, 2022 09:51 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Soren calls on Jharkhand guv again, asks for clarity on EC opinion
The ECI had on August 25 sent its opinion over the issue after conducting a hearing in its tribunal over the reference from Governor Ramesh Bais.
Updated on Sep 16, 2022 12:02 AM IST
Jharkhand makes 1932 base year for domicile, grants 77% reservation in jobs
The cabinet also approved proposals to send these two bills after ratification from the state assembly to the Centre to include them in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, Jharkhand cabinet secretary Vandana Dadel said. A law in the Ninth Schedule is shielded from judicial review.
Updated on Sep 15, 2022 04:43 AM IST
J’khand Governor back after week-long Delhi visit, no word on Soren
Bais left for New Delhi on September 2 morning, a day after a delegation of the state’s ruling coalition met and asked him to clear the air on the report sent to him by ECI on CM Soren.
Published on Sep 08, 2022 09:24 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Disqualification hearing: 3 suspended Congress MLAs in J’khand seek eight weeks to file reply, Speaker to decide next date
The three suspended Congress legislators — Irfan Ansari, Naman Bixel Kongari and Rajesh Kacchap — were arrested in Kolkata on July 30 with ₹48 lakh in cash, which their party alleged was paid to topple the Hemant Soren government.
Published on Sep 07, 2022 09:31 PM IST
Jharkhand Speaker adjourns hearing on disqualification of 3 Congress legislators
The three suspended Jharkhand Congress legislators, who were caught with ₹49 lakh cash in their car on the outskirts of West Bengal’s Howrah on July 30, sought more time to file their reply
Updated on Sep 07, 2022 06:38 PM IST
Soren wins ‘trust vote’ amid Jharkhand turmoil
Amidst the prevailing stalemate over continuation of chief minister Hemant Soren as an MLA, the Jharkhand assembly on Monday passed the confidence motion tabled by the ruling coalition.
Published on Sep 06, 2022 12:02 AM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Hemant Soren asks Guv for clarity on EC note, calls special session
Jharkhand’s ruling coalition met governor Ramesh Bais on Thursday and asked him to clear the air on a confidential Election Commission (EC) report on chief minister Hemant Soren’s assembly membership, a week after Raj Bhavan received the sealed envelope that triggered a political crisis in the state.
Updated on Sep 02, 2022 12:37 AM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Clear air on ECI opinion on CM Soren, UPA team tells J’khand Governor
In its memorandum submitted to the Governor, the eight-member delegation said the “purported selective leaks” from the Raj Bhawan were creating a state of chaos, confusion and uncertainty, which vitiates the administration and governance of state.
Published on Sep 01, 2022 10:14 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Disqualification proceedings against suspended Jharkhand Congress MLAs deferred
Irfan Ansari, Naman Bixel Kongari, and Rajesh Kacchap emailed Mahto saying they were stuck in Kolkata due to their bail conditions
Published on Sep 01, 2022 02:35 PM IST
Jharkhand politics: 4 Congress ministers return to Ranchi for cabinet meeting
While 31 legislators, 19 from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and 12 from Congress, arrived in Raipur on Tuesday, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and five JMM ministers stayed back in Ranchi along with some other legislators
Published on Aug 31, 2022 08:12 PM IST
Ritesh Mishra and Vishal Kant
Jharkhand House Speaker concludes anti-defection proceedings against Marandi
The development comes amid political uncertainty following the Election Commission of India’s ostensible recommendation for chief minister Hemant Soren’s disqualification as an assembly member
Updated on Aug 31, 2022 09:47 AM IST
Soren moves MLAs out of J’khand amid turmoil
Chhattisgarh is ruled by the Congress, one of the constituents of the ruling United Progressive Alliance in Jharkhand
Updated on Aug 31, 2022 03:08 AM IST
Ritesh Mishra and Vishal Kant, Raipur/ranchi
3 Jharkhand Congress MLAs caught with ₹49L cash stare at disqualification
The three suspended legislators are currently in Kolkata, as per the condition laid by Calcutta high court while granting them interim bail, even as the West Bengal CID is investigating the case.
Updated on Aug 28, 2022 12:50 AM IST
Jharkhand CM, MLAs show strength as uncertainty looms
Soren took a boat ride with the ruling MLAs at the Latratu dam in Khunti district, around 40km from the state capital, amid speculation that the legislators were being ferried to a “friendly state” with a non-Bharatiya Janata Party government
Updated on Aug 28, 2022 04:17 AM IST
Jharkhand: 3 suspended Cong legislators stare at disqualification from assembly
The three suspended Jharkhand Congress legislators were arrested in Kolkata on July 30 with cash that was allegedly paid for toppling the Hemant Soren government
Published on Aug 27, 2022 11:16 AM IST
Soren holds hectic parleys amid political uncertainty in Jharkhand
People familiar with the details of the meeting said that strategies were being chalked out to ensure that there was no threat to the government. The people, however, said that a decision will be taken once Governor Ramesh Bais communicates to them the Election Commission’s opinion.
Published on Aug 26, 2022 11:36 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren meets legislators as he faces disqualification
People aware of the matter said most of the 49 legislators of the ruling alliance, which also includes Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, attended the meeting
Published on Aug 26, 2022 02:48 PM IST
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in survival battle as EC report goes to guv
Though Soren will not be the first sitting CM to lose their seat while being in office, the circumstances of the case may be peculiar.
Updated on Aug 26, 2022 02:12 AM IST
Vishal Kant, Hindustan Times, Ranchi
‘Complete BJP takeover’: Hemant Soren on EC recommendation to disqualify him
The Jharkhand governor sought ECI’s opinion over a complaint received from BJP that CM Hemant Soren should be disqualified from the assembly as he allegedly holds an office-of-profit
Updated on Aug 25, 2022 04:19 PM IST
ED finds 2 AK-47 assault rifles in a rented house in Ranchi. Then a twist
The Jharkhand Police said the two AK-47 rifles belong to two police guards assigned to protect Prem Prakash but did not explain why the rifles were lying in the almirah or reveal their identity
Updated on Aug 25, 2022 04:35 AM IST
Vishal Kant and Neeraj Chauhan, Hindustan Times, Ranchi/new Delhi
Hemant Soren meets MLAs of Jharkhand's ruling alliance
Soren, who leads an alliance government of his party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, has been in the dock over corruption charges in recent days.
Published on Aug 21, 2022 12:04 AM IST
BJP on his heels, CM Soren huddles with all ruling alliance MLAs
Soren, who is fighting off charges of corruption in and outside courts, on Saturday held a meeting of all ruling alliance legislators at his official residence in the state capital and discussed ways and means to address their grievances.
Published on Aug 20, 2022 10:10 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Jharkhand: 19 women in this tribal village are in jail for ‘witchcraft killings’
As per the latest available data of National Crime Records Bureau, 590 people, mostly women, were killed on allegations of practicing witchcraft between 2001 and 2020
Updated on Aug 19, 2022 05:13 PM IST
Jharkhand CM Soren calls for meeting of ruling allies on Saturday
Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren has called a meeting of legislators on Saturday, which will be attended by ruling alliance partners Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), people aware of the development said on Thursday
Published on Aug 19, 2022 12:30 AM IST
Tribal community faces existential crisis, says Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren
Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said the new definition of ‘development’, which involves cutting down of forests to set up buildings and factories often threatens the existence of tribals
Published on Aug 09, 2022 08:48 PM IST
Cash haul: Bengal CID raids premises of arrested J’khand Congress MLAs
On July 30, the West Bengal police had recovered ₹49 lakh on outskirts of Howrah from a vehicle occupied by three Congress legislators Ansari, Kachhap and Naman Video Kongari.
Published on Aug 08, 2022 11:04 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi/kolkata