The News Freedom
Ranchi, February 5
Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren comfortably secured its majority in the state Assembly on Monday, garnering 47 votes in the 81-member house. This vote of confidence comes amidst ongoing political turmoil following the arrest of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren on corruption charges. With one MLA recently resigning, the majority mark in the Assembly stood at 41. The ruling coalition, consisting of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal, had anticipated a smooth victory. The opposition managed to garner 29 votes against the Soren government.
Notably, Hemant Soren was present in the Assembly for the floor test with court permission and even declared his intention to run the government as “Hemant Soren part – II.” This floor test followed a series of dramatic events in the tribal-dominated state. Last month, Hemant Soren resigned abruptly before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. He denies the allegations, calling them a BJP conspiracy.
The JMM-Congress alliance backed Champai Soren, a longtime aide of Shibu Soren, as Hemant Soren’s successor. Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister with two deputies. This resounding victory secures the immediate future of the Soren government. However, the ongoing investigation into Hemant Soren and the broader political climate in Jharkhand remain points of contention and potential future challenges.