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Champai Soren, a senior leader in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), previously held significant portfolios such as welfare and transport in the state. Soren is one of the founding members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha along with Hemant Soren’s father, Shibu Soren.
NEW DELHI: In a political twist, 67-year-old Champai Soren, a veteran of the Jharkhand statehood movement, assumed the role of Jharkhand’s Chief Minister on Friday. This development followed the resignation and subsequent arrest of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Champai Soren, a senior leader in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), previously held significant portfolios such as welfare and transport in the state. Soren is one of the founding members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha along with Hemant Soren’s father, Shibu Soren. His elevation to the legislature party leader’s position in the Jharkhand Assembly was propelled by his seniority and close association with Hemant’s father, former CM Shibu Soren. This strategic move virtually quashed any potential rebellion within the ruling coalition.
ALSO READ: ‘Missing’ Hemant Soren appears in Ranchi, chairs session with ruling alliance MLAs
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, with Champai Soren given the responsibility to prove his government’s majority within the next 10 days. State Congress chief Rajesh Thakur confirmed this arrangement, emphasising that the JMM-led alliance, comprising JMM, Congress, and RJD, currently holds the majority in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.
FLASH: Champai Soren poised to become the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand, set to be sworn in today at 12:15 PM.
Jharkhand, known for frequent changes in leadership, has seen 11 Chief Ministers in the past 23 years. Leaders like Arjun Munda and Shibu Soren served three terms… pic.twitter.com/z93mvyHxvH
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) February 2, 2024
Who is Champai Soren?
Champai Soren, a tribal leader, became the 12th Chief Minister of the state and the sixth from Jharkhand’s Kolhan region. During the oath-taking ceremony, senior Congress leader Alamgir Alam and RJD leader Satyanand Bhokta also took the oath as cabinet ministers.
Born to a farming family in Jilingagoda village, Saraikela-Kharsawan district, Champai Soren actively participated in the Jharkhand movement in the late 90s alongside Shibu Soren. He earned the moniker ‘Jharkhand Tiger’ for his role in mobilising support.
Starting his political career by winning an independent MLA seat in 1991, Champai Soren later joined JMM. Despite facing defeats, he regained the Saraikela Assembly seat in 2005 and went on to secure victories in the 2009, 2014, and 2019 elections.
ALSO READ: Hemant Soren’s close aides under scrutiny in ED’s ‘Illegal’ mining crackdown
Champai served as a cabinet minister in the BJP government headed by Arjun Munda from September 2010 to January 2013. In 2019, when Hemant Soren formed the government, Champai Soren assumed the position of Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Transport.
FLASH: Champai Soren took oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The swearing-in ceremony took place at 12:20 PM today, marking the 12th change in leadership in the state in 23 years.
Congress’s Alamgir Alam and RJD’s Satyanand Bhokta also took oath as ministers.… pic.twitter.com/ejBcSEeEVN— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) February 2, 2024
The state has witnessed a total of 11 Chief Minister changes in the past 23 years, with Arjun Munda and Shibu Soren each serving three terms. Raghubar Das stands out as the only Chief Minister to complete a full five-year term.
The political landscape is currently enmeshed in legal complexities, with former Chief Minister Hemant Soren challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a land scam.
Amidst these developments, 43 MLAs have rallied in support of Champai Soren, solidifying the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s position. The state’s political dynamics continue to unfold against the backdrop of legal challenges, marking a critical juncture in Jharkhand’s contemporary history.
