In a major political development in Jharkhand, Hemant Soren is poised to make a comeback as the state’s Chief Minister after Champai Soren resigned from the post on Wednesday. Hemant Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was unanimously elected as the leader of the ruling alliance, paving the way for his return to the top job.
Champai Soren’s Resignation and Hemant Soren’s Claim
Champai Soren, who took over as the Chief Minister on February 2nd after Hemant Soren’s arrest in a money laundering case, submitted his resignation to Governor C.P Radhakrishnan. In a statement, Champai Soren said, “This is a decision of our alliance, which is very strong. Earlier, the alliance had given me the responsibility in special political circumstances. Now he (Hemant Soren) is back. The alliance today decided unanimously to choose him as our leader.”
Immediately after Champai Soren’s resignation, Hemant Soren staked a claim to form the government. The JMM general secretary and spokesperson, Supriyo Bhattacharya, stated that Hemant Soren is likely to take oath as the Chief Minister on July 7th.
Hemant Soren’s Bail and the ED Case
Hemant Soren resigned from the Chief Minister’s post on January 31st and was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering charges in connection with an alleged land racket in the state capital. He was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court on June 28th, with the court stating that there was reason to believe that he was “not guilty of the offense as alleged”.
The ED has indicated that it will challenge the High Court’s order granting bail to Hemant Soren in the Supreme Court. However, Hemant Soren has denied all charges and has accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy to send him to jail.
Significance of Hemant Soren’s Return
Hemant Soren’s return as the Chief Minister is expected to provide a boost to the JMM-led alliance ahead of the upcoming state elections, which are due in four to five months. The JMM is looking to fight the polls with Hemant Soren as its face, as he missed out on most of the Lok Sabha campaign following his arrest.
In his first public rally after his release from jail, Hemant Soren claimed that the BJP is planning to advance the assembly elections in Jharkhand. He has also accused the BJP of being “anti-tribal”.
BJP’s Attack on JMM’s Dynastic Politics
The BJP has mounted an attack on the JMM over Hemant Soren’s likely return as Chief Minister for the third time, accusing the party of indulging in dynastic politics. Nikshikant Dubey, BJP MP from Godda in Jharkhand, said in a social media post that the “Champai Soren era is over in Jharkhand” and that “in the family-oriented party, people outside the family have no political future.
State BJP chief Babulal Marandi said there was no space for tribal leaders outside the Shibu Soren family to excel in JMM. He accused the JMM of removing a senior tribal leader from the top post to pave the way for Hemant Soren’s return.
Champai Soren’s Unhappiness and Future Role
All is not well within the ruling alliance, as Champai Soren, who had taken over as Chief Minister after Hemant Soren stepped down, is not happy with the decision to replace him. Sources have said that Champai Soren may be named JMM’s executive president.
During the meeting of JMM’s legislature party, Chmapai Soren expressed his feeling of being “insulted”. However, the party went ahead and named Hemant Soren as its legislature party leader.
Conclusion
Hemant SOren’s return as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister marks a significant political development in the state. The move is expected to provide a boost to the JMM-led alliance ahead of the upcoming state election, with Hemant Soren as the face of the alliance.
However, the decision to replace Champai Soren with Hemant Soren has provided ammunition to the BJP in the run-up to the polls, with the saffron party accusing the JMM of indulging in dynastic politics. The BJP has also targeted the JMM for removing a senior tribal leader from the top post.
As Jharkhand gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, the political landscape is set to witness a fierce battle between the JMM-led alliance and the BJP, with Hemant Soren’s return as the Chief Minister adding a new dimension to the contest.