2024-07-05 15:54:36
Ranchi: Amid the rapidly changing political developments in the corridors of power in Jharkhand, Hemant Soren is set to take oath as CM for the third time. The swearing-in ceremony is likely on or before July 7. Hemant Soren, who became CM after winning the 2019 assembly elections, handed over his chair to Champai Soren under a ‘stop gap arrangement’ on January 31 before going to jail in a money laundering case related to the land scam. Now within six days of coming out of jail on bail, he asked for the chair back from him.
In 2015, Nitish had to struggle to remove Manjhi
Hemant Soren did not have to face the same arguments in taking back the CM chair from Champai Soren as JDU leader Nitish Kumar had to face in 2015 in removing Jitan Ram Manjhi from Bihar. Nitish Kumar had resigned taking responsibility for the party’s defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and had made Jitan Ram Manjhi the CM’s chair in his place. Nitish was confident that Jitan Ram Manjhi would follow his orders, but as soon as he sat on the chair, he changed his colour and became an ‘autocrat’ and put Nitish in trouble. Later, Nitish had to work hard to remove him.
Hemant Soren wanted to make Kalpana Soren the CM
Such circumstances did not arise in front of Hemant Soren and Champai Soren, who is called ‘Tiger’ among his people, surrendered easily and agreed to return the CM’s chair after five months with only minor conditions. According to sources- ‘Hemant Soren wanted his wife Kalpana Soren to become CM. Champai Soren did not agree to this.’ He told Hemant Soren, ‘I will not object if you become CM again.’ To respect Champai Soren, Hemant Soren assured him of giving him a post like the coordinator of the coordination committee in the government and the working president of JMM.
The matter was settled after talks with Sonia Gandhi
Two days ago, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had spoken to Hemant Soren over the phone. According to sources, Sonia herself told Hemant Soren that since the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance had contested elections under her leadership and gained power in 2019, and in 2024 also, the message should go to the public that you are leading the alliance. In such a situation, if Champai Soren remains on the CM post, then confusion may arise. It is said that after this ‘political advice’ from Sonia Gandhi, Hemant decided to remove Champai Soren and sit on the CM’s chair again. Then, as per the decided plot, in the meeting of the MLAs of the ruling alliance held at Hemant Soren’s residence on Kanke Road on Wednesday afternoon, he was again elected as the leader of the legislative party. In the meeting, CM Champai Soren himself proposed to leave the post and elect Hemant Soren as the leader and all the MLAs agreed to this. At 7.15 pm, Champai Soren’s resignation and Hemant Soren’s letter of support from the MLAs reached the Governor together.