Ranchi: Fresh political developments hint at a change of guard in Jharkhand. Former Chief Minister Hemant Soren may get reinstated as Champai Soren resigned from chief ministership of Jharkhand.
Today evening, Champai Soren, along with gathbandhan leaders and Hemant Soren submitted his resignation to the Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
This decision that Hemant Soren will be at the helm of affairs in Jharkhand was made after an important meeting of Gathbandhan parties took place in the state capital today.
Hemant Soren had to resign earlier this year as the Enforcement Directorate alleged that he was involved in a land scam case.
Before the Gathbandhan meet, on Tuesday, a meeting of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislators took place, during which the MLAs of the ruling party gave their nod to the return of Hemant Soren as the CM.
Sources said that Champai Soren, who became Chief Minister after Hemant Soren’s resignation five months ago, has also agreed to it.
Why does Gathbandhan think Hemant Soren should be the CM?
“If the alliance fights elections under Champai Soren, and if Gathbandhan returns to power, it will be difficult for Hemant Soren to become Chief Minister, as the mandate will be for Champai Soren,” said a senior MLA.
“If Champai Soren continues, it will also create confusion for the ministers, MLAs, as well as cadres during the assembly polls, as there will be two power centers. Also, since Hemant Soren has been implicated in a fake case, he can take on the BJP-led NDA and reach out to people with this message,” he added.
But the most important thing is, said CPIML MLA Vinod Singh, whose party has outside support to the Gathbandhan government, “There should be a senapati (a leader) of the fight. So Hemant Soren must lead from the front in the upcoming election.”
Jharkhand assembly elections are scheduled for December. However, Hemant Soren, after being released from jail, claimed that BJP wants assembly polls in Jharkhand to be held early, so they may be conducted in September-October along with Haryana and Maharashtra state elections.
Significantly, when Soren was in jail, his wife Kalpana Murmu Soren fought a by-election and won it.
In the 81-seat Jharkhand assembly, Gathbandhan has the support of 48 MLAs, including 29 from JMM, 17 from Congress, and one each from RJD and CPIML.
