Jharkhand CM Champai Soren Resigns Paving Way For JMM Chief Hemant Soren

JMM Executive President Hemant Soren has staked claim to form Government for the third time after legislators of the party-led I.N.D.I.A bloc reached a consensus in the state.

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan. (ANI)

Jharkhand News: Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Wednesday tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.

JMM Executive President Hemant Soren, who is out on bail in a money laundering case, staked claim to form the government, hours after leaders of the JMM-led alliance unanimously elected him as the legislature party leader.

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren tenders resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.

JMM Executive President Hemant Soren stakes claim to form Government. pic.twitter.com/uZqvSH2jpj

— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2024

With the resignation, Champai Soren, who took oath as the 12th chief minister of Jharkhand in February after Hemant Soren's arrest, concluded a day-long drama full of speculations.

The swearing-in ceremony of Hemant Soren is likely to be held soon. If sworn in, Hemant Soren will be the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand.

According to Congress MLA Banna Gupta, Raj Bhavan will come out with the swearing-in time by 11 am on Thursday.

"I have resigned as per the decision of the JMM-led alliance. Our alliance is strong," Champai Soren said after coming out of Raj Bhavan.

"All know what had happened with Hemant Soren Ji... I was given the responsibility by the coalition partners. Now, the alliance has decided in favour of Hemant Soren Ji," he said.    

Hemant Soren, meanwhile said that all formalities to form the government are complete. "Everything will be disclosed soon," the JMM executive president said when asked about the swearing-in.        

Earlier, leaders and MLAs of the alliance during a meeting at Champai Soren's residence unanimously decided to elect Hemant Soren as the JMM legislature party leader, as per party sources. A decision was taken in the meeting to make Hemant Soren as the Chief Minister of the state again.

Congress's Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir and its state president Rajesh Thakur also attended the meeting, besides Hemant Soren's brother Basant and wife Kalpana.

Hemant Soren, son of JMM supremo Shibu Soren was released from jail on June 28 after nearly five months, after the high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as the CM shortly before his arrest on January 31 by the ED.  

The Enforcement Directorate is soon expected to approach the Supreme Court with an SLP against the Jharkhand High Court order that granted bail to Hemant Soren in a money laundering case, as per sources.  

Meanwhile, in a post on X, BJP MP Nishkant Dubey said, "The Champai Soren era is over in Jharkhand. In the family-oriented party, people outside the family have no political future. I wish the chief minister drew inspiration from Bhagwan Birsa Munda and stood up against the corrupt Hemant Soren ji." 

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi asserted that the tribals outside Shibu Soren’s family are only temporary faces in JMM. He also alleged that the family believes in using people as per their needs and requirements.Marandi alleged that the real face of JMM, which had talked about rising above nepotism and electing a new chief minister five months ago, has once again been exposed.