JMM's Champai Soren To Be Next Jharkhand Chief Minister As Hemant Soren Steps Down

Champai Soren will take over as Legislative Party Leader following Hemant Soren's resignation as Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren resigned on Wednesday following a 7-hour grilling by the Enforcement Directorate. The ruling alliance in the state has elected Transport Minister Champai Soren as JMM legislative party leader. He will be taking over as the next Chief Minister of the state.  

Jharkhand Minister Banna Gupta confirmed the news and told reporters: "We have chosen Champai Soren as the leader of the Legislative Party. We came to the Raj Bhawan to request the Governor for the oath ceremony". 

JMM MP Mahua Maji also told the reporters that "CM (Hemant Soren) is in ED custody. He has gone to the Governor with the ED team to submit his resignation. Champai Soren will be the new Chief Minister. We have enough numbers." 

ED officials were at the Jharkhand Chief Minister's residence in Ranchi to investigate the alleged financial misconduct, amid growing speculation about his arrest. Prior to the ED's interrogation, the ruling JMM-Congress alliance demonstrated its support, with a large number of party members gathering outside Hemant Soren's home. This prompted state police to enforce Section 144 in the area.

The ED's questioning came after a tumultuous episode in Jharkhand, where the BJP opposition claimed that the chief minister was "evading" the investigation agency. The BJP even circulated "missing" posters with a Rs 11,000 reward for credible information about Hemant Soren.

The chaos ensued when the federal agency attempted to question Hemant Soren at his Delhi home on Monday but claimed to be unable to locate the JMM leader. Following that, the ED raided his Delhi home, seizing his BMW car and Rs 36 lakh in cash on the basis of alleged "incriminating evidence".

Meanwhile, Hemant Soren reappeared in Ranchi on Tuesday. As the ED monitored Delhi's airports, the Jharkhand Chief Minister chose a 1,200-kilometer road trip back home. In Ranchi, he attended official events, answering questions about his whereabouts by stating that he lives in the hearts of the people.

Earlier reports had indicated that the ruling JMM-Congress coalition had foreseen the possibility of Hemant Soren's arrest. His wife, Kalpana Soren, was reportedly the frontrunner to succeed him as the next chief minister. Earlier this month, JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad resigned, potentially paving the way for Kalpana Soren to enter the state assembly.