Political Turmoil in Jharkhand: Champai Soren Poised to Assume Chief Minister Role Amid Hemant Soren’s Arrest
Ranchi, 31st January 2024: Champai Soren, the seasoned leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the current Transport Minister, is on the verge of taking over the reins as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. This development follows the arrest of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate, who resigned from his position amidst allegations of involvement in a ₹600 crore land scam.
Hemant Soren, facing accusations related to the massive land scam, voluntarily agreed to be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate, leading to his arrest. The alleged scam involves manipulating the ownership of government land and selling it to builders. A total of 14 individuals, including high-ranking officials, have been arrested in connection with the case.
Sources suggest that Hemant Soren, who had previously evaded multiple summons, chose to step down before signing the arrest memo. Despite asserting that he was a victim of a vast conspiracy, he cooperated with the Central agency during questioning, and his statement was recorded.
Anticipating his arrest, a meeting was held with MLAs of the ruling alliance to discuss his successor. Initially considering his wife, Kalpana Soren, for the role, the party abandoned the idea due to upcoming state elections in November. Election regulations barred her from being elected as an MLA in the final year of the state assembly’s term.
Despite the challenges, state minister Mithilesh Thakur expressed confidence that the government, with its majority, will persist.
