Ranchi: In a significant development, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has submitted his resignation, arriving at Rajbhawan accompanied by the ED team. Notably, he arrived in an Innova car, exhibiting a cheerful demeanor towards the media. As the Vidhayak Dal of JMM elects Transport Minister, Champai Soren, as their leader, MLAs are urging an immediate swearing-in ceremony. The political landscape in Ranchi undergoes a transformative shift amidst these unfolding events.
To preclude potential hurdles with the Election Commission and the possibility of facing reluctance over holding bye-elections, the outgoing Chief Minister has opted for a safer course by selecting Champai. This decision avoids the uncertainty of a bye-election on the Gandey seat left vacant after Sarfaraz Ahmed's resignation. It appears that Hemant Soren executed a well-thought-out plan. A month ago, he orchestrated the resignation of the MLA from Gandey Constituency, Mr. Sarfaraz, to create an illusion of paving the way for his wife, Kalpana, to become CM after a bye election from that constituency. However, it turns out to be a strategic move, as JMM MLAs and those the alliance partner Congress, were completely unaware that Champai Soren would be the successor after Hemant's resignation until the moment of his resignation today. Hemant's calculated actions' success is the reason behind his waving and smiling, despite the impending ED arrest. Bringing Kalpana to the meeting with MLAs, yesterday, was also aimed to create an impression that Kalpana would become the CM.
In a strategic move, the appointment of 68-year-old Champai Soren, a co-founder of JMM and a close associate of Shibu Soren, the father of Hemant Soren, not only secures a smooth transition, but also averts the potential crisis of party fragmentation. Given Champai Soren's influence and strong ties within JMM, particularly with the MLAs, the move ensures stability and unity within the party, mitigating the risk of internal discord that could have arisen, had he not been chosen as the successor after Hemant's resignation and had Kalpana really been to be made CM.
