Champai Soren, the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislature party, took the oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on February 2 at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, succeeding Hemant Soren. This transition follows Hemant Soren’s resignation and subsequent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) two days ago.
Champai Soren assumed the chief minister’s role after urging the governor to promptly accept his claim to form the government, addressing the state’s political confusion since Hemant Soren’s resignation deepened the political crisis. With the JMM-led alliance, Champai Soren now has a 10-day window to prove the majority of his government.
The 67-year-old tribal leader, representing the Kolhan region of Jharkhand, comprising East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts, was sworn in as the 12th Chief Minister of the state. During the oath-taking ceremony, senior Congress leader Alamgir Alam and RJD leader Satyanand Bhokta also took their oaths as cabinet ministers.
Champai Soren, the eldest son of farmer Simal Soren from Jilinggoda village, actively participated in the Jharkhand movement in the late ’90s, earning the moniker ‘Jharkhand Tiger.’ His political journey began as an independent MLA in 1991, later affiliating with the JMM. Despite some electoral setbacks, he secured victories in subsequent elections and held ministerial positions in both BJP and Hemant Soren-led governments.
As the new Chief Minister faces the task of proving the government’s majority, lawmakers of the JMM-led alliance are being safeguarded in Hyderabad to prevent potential poaching attempts. The majority alliance currently holds 47 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.
