JMM Leader Hemant Soren swears in as Jharkhand Chief Minister

Jharkhand Multi Morcha leader Hemant Soren took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on Thursday, succeeding Champai Soren. The cabinet ministers are scheduled to be sworn in on Sunday. Hemant Soren swore in after a tumultuous period starting in January when he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after he resigned from his post, accused in a land fraud case. In June, he was granted bail by the High Court, which found no direct involvement in the alleged scam.

“Today is July 4. On Jan 31, from the same place, I conveyed a message to you all on how the opposition has conspired against me. They were successful. For five months, they tried to keep me inside the jail by different means. We took the legal path and people supported us,” said Soren taking to social media platform “X”, stating that it is the end of what he of what he termed an anti-democratic plot by the opposition.

Soren met with Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday to formally stake his claim to form the government following Champai Soren's resignation. Champai Soren, reflecting on his brief tenure as CM, expressed support for Hemant Soren's leadership upon his return, marking a significant transition within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). He was sworn in at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi at 5 pm, with his father, Shibu Soren, a revered figure in JMM and former CM, in attendance to bless the occasion.

Speaking after taking oath, Hemant Soren affirmed the commitment of the Mahagathbandhan government since 2019 to prioritize the interests of the people despite political challenges. He acknowledged Champai Soren's efforts in continuing these initiatives during his interim leadership.

His wife, Kalpana Soren, expressed confidence in Hemant Soren's dedication to serving the people and issued a cautious reminder to the party about the impending state elections. She stressed the importance of utilizing the limited time effectively.

Hemant Soren's return to the Chief Minister's office comes after Champai Soren assumed the role temporarily in February, following Hemant Soren's resignation and subsequent arrest on January 31.