Hemant Soren, who recently took the oath of office for the third time, is set to expand his cabinet after proving his majority in a special session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. This cabinet expansion is scheduled to take place on Monday.
Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on July 4. His return to the Chief Minister's office marks a significant moment in Jharkhand's political landscape, especially following his recent legal challenges.
Soren was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court on June 28 after spending five months in jail. His predecessor, Champai Soren, resigned just five months after taking the oath, paving the way for Hemant Soren to reclaim the role. Champai Soren had taken the oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand at Raj Bhavan on February 2 this year.
Hemant Soren's legal troubles began with his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. He resigned as Chief Minister before his arrest on January 31. After nearly five months in Birsa Munda Jail, he was released on June 28 following bail from the Jharkhand High Court.
This isn't the first time Hemant Soren has faced challenges in his political career. He had previously taken the oath as Chief Minister on December 29, 2019, marking his second term in office. Despite these hurdles, Soren's return as Chief Minister is expected to strengthen the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which has a significant influence in the tribal-dominated state.
In the 2019 assembly elections, the JMM formed an alliance with the Congress and Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), securing a comfortable majority with forty-seven seats in the 81-member house. Hemant Soren's leadership is seen as a pivotal factor in this success, and his return is anticipated to bolster the party's position further.
As Hemant Soren prepares to expand his cabinet, the political scenario in Jharkhand remains dynamic. The decisions made in this new term will likely have a lasting impact on the state's governance and development. The upcoming cabinet expansion is a crucial step in shaping the administration that will govern Jharkhand in the coming years.
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