On Wednesday, Champai Soren submitted his resignation as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand to the governor. Hemant Soren, the executive president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), then laid his claim to establish the government.
Champai Soren, addressing the media upon his resignation, explained, “Being awarded the Chief Minister’s role a few days back was a major responsibility. However, with Hemant Soren’s return, our coalition resolved to select Hemant as our leader. Consequently, I have stepped down from my position.”
Champai Soren, who is 67 years old and a prominent figure within JMM, was officially inducted as Chief Minister on February 2, a decision made following Hemant Soren’s mandatory resignation due to his impending arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to suspected misconduct involving land.
Hemant Soren was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court on a money laundering charge related to an alleged land scam, leading to his release from incarceration on June 28 after nearly five months.
Upon his meeting with the governor to claim his right to form the state’s government, Hemant Soren remarked, “The former CM (Champai Soren) has briefed you all… We will provide more details soon. We have adhered to all necessary formalities.”
After being released from jail, Hemant Soren described his imprisonment as the outcome of a fabricated conspiracy against him.
He defended his innocence by saying, “I was wrongfully accused. It was a concerted effort to sideline me, resulting in a five-month jail term. Despite this, my respect for the judiciary remains unwavering. Thankfully, the court has ruled in my favor, securing my release, though I acknowledge the lengthy nature of judicial proceedings.”
The Jharkhand High Court, in addressing Soren’s case, noted that despite the Enforcement Directorate’s attempts to question his actions, especially regarding a complaint Soren filed against ED officials, there seemed no substantial risk of him committing a similar offence in the future.
Before his arrest on January 31, Soren had been summoned by the ED several times, which included inquiries at his home.