Following accusations from the BJP that the JMM President and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was "absconding" to evade the Enforcement Directorate's investigation into an alleged land scam case, Soren on Tuesday returned to his official residence in Ranchi. Soren presided over a meeting with MLAs from the ruling alliance at the CM House to address the prevailing political situation in the state.


According to sources at the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) cited by PTI, Soren arrived at his official residence after midnight.


In images and videos shared by the CMO on X, a substantial number of MLAs and ministers can be seen extending greetings to Soren before participating in the meeting. The Chief Minister's wife, Kalpana Soren, is also said to have been present at the meeting.


All legislators affiliated with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led ruling alliance were instructed to remain in the state capital and attend the crucial meeting. The primary agenda of the gathering was to deliberate on strategies concerning the prevailing political scenario and the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s scheduled interrogation of the Chief Minister on Wednesday, as disclosed by a legislator, PTI reported.


In response to an email from the ED, Soren has consented to provide his statement on January 31 at 1 pm at his residence.


The ED had conducted a search at Soren's residence in Shanti Niketan, Delhi, on Monday, remaining there for nearly 13 hours to question him in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land deal in Jharkhand, officials reported, as per PTI.


During the operation, the ED seized Rs 36 lakh, an SUV, and deemed some documents as "incriminating."


Notably, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused the Jharkhand CM of being on the verge of making his wife as Chief Minister of the state and called him a "bhagoda" (on the run).


Dubey said in his post on social media X, "Hemant Soren ji has called his own, JMM, Congress, and allied MLAs to reach Ranchi with their luggage and bags. According to the information, there is a proposal to make Kalpana Soren ji (Hemant Soren's wife) Chief Minister." <





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