New Delhi: Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren has resigned from his post, while his predecessor Hemant Soren has staked claim to form a new government, PTI reported.
“I have resigned as per the decision of the JMM-led alliance. Our alliance is strong,” PTI quoted Champai Soren as saying on Wednesday (July 3) outside governor C.P. Radhakrishnan’s residence. He was referring to the ruling alliance in Jharkhand, which is led by his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
Champai Soren also said that everyone knew “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,” PTI reported.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hemant Soren convened a meeting of MLAs from Jharkhand’s ruling alliance, which comprises the JMM and other parties in the opposition INDIA bloc, in Ranchi.
A JMM source told PTI that the legislators decided to make Hemant Soren the state’s chief minister again.
The Hindu reported that Hemant Soren may be sworn in as chief minister as early as tomorrow, July 4.
Hemant Soren became Jharkhand chief minister for the second time in 2019 and resigned in January just before he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, a Union government financial crimes agency, in a case involving alleged money laundering.
Soon after Hemant Soren’s arrest, Champai Soren laid his claim to form a new government and was sworn in two days later.
Hemant Soren was granted bail in the case on Friday (June 28) by the Jharkhand high court, which also said he was, on the face of it, not guilty of money laundering, his lawyer then said.
He is accused of buying a piece of land in Ranchi through the proceeds of an illegal property sale.
His release on bail is a shot in the arm for the INDIA bloc. Assembly elections are due in Jharkhand later this year.
Among Jharkhand’s tribal population, his arrest led to significant anti-BJP sentiments ahead of the general elections, The Wire had reported.
