Hemant Soren takes oath as Jharkhand chief minister for third time

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren took oath as chief minister of Jharkhand for the third time, days after being released on bail by the high court in an alleged money laundering case.
In an interesting turn of events, the oath-taking ceremony which was announced to happen on July 7 after Soren's meeting with Jharkhand governor, CP Radhakrishnan, he suddenly rescheduled it for today itself.
Soren was the only one who took oath on Thursday.
"From 2019, the present 'Mahagathbandan' govt has done all the work as per the interest of the people here. During the political ups and downs, Champai Soren took forward those initiatives, because I was in jail...because of the court's order, I could come out," said Soren after taking oath.
JMM supremo and Soren's father Shibu Soren, his mother Rupi Soren, wife Kalpana Soren were also present at the swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan.
Earlier, Soren on Wednesday staked claim before governor CP Radhakrishnan following Champai Soren' resignation who took oath as Jharkhand's 12th chief minister after Hemant's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31.
"We all know what happened with Hemant Soren and he was forced to resign.Our alliance, however, is strong and we have made a leadership change today. Hemant Soren has been selected as alliance's legislature party leader and I have resigned willingly," said former CM Champai.
Additionally, AICC executive committee member Dr Ajoy Kumar said Soren will be the face of the INDIA bloc in the assembly poll in Jharkhand which are scheduled to be held later this year.
"The change of guard in Jharkhand would not affect the prospect of the INDIA bloc at all in the assembly election. In fact, we will do much better than the 2019 polls," said Kumar.
"Sending Hemant Soren to jail without any evidence for five months peeved the Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes and general caste people," added Kumar.
Meanwhile, BJP Godda MP Nishikant Dubeytook a dig at the JMM's move, calling it a "family-oriented party".
"The Champai Soren era is over in Jharkhand. In the family-oriented party, people outside the family have no political future. I wish the chief minister drew inspiration from Bhagwan Birsa Munda and stood up against the corrupt Hemant Soren ji," said Dubey in a post on X.
JMM and its allies enjoy a comfortable majority in the state assembly with 47 members out of 81, which includes 27 from JMM, 18 from Congress and one each from RJD and CPI(ML)L, while the opposition led by BJP have 30 members. Meanwhile, 4 seats remain vacant in the state assembly.