Soren out, Soren in: Hemant back in saddle ahead of Jharkhand polls

Hemant's return to the top post will also be a morale boost for the JMM, and its broader alliance with Congress

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren, who was released last week after he was granted bail in a money laundering case, on Thursday took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand at Raj Bhavan.

The JMM leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered him the oath of office and secrecy.

Soren had resigned from the chief minister's position shortly before his arrest by the ED and in his place, party loyalist Champai Soren took over the role.

However, after the High Court of Jharkhand granted bail to Hemant, Champai Soren resigned from the post making way for the former CM to take over the role once again.

Hemant Soren returns as CM: Why is it important?

Within a week of his release, Hemant Soren has returned as the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand, even as the ED is expected to approach the Supreme Court with a special leave petition (SLP) against the Jharkhand High Court's order.

The ED is likely to challenge the June 28 order passed by a bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, stating that the court's belief that Soren is "not guilty" is erroneous and the accused does not satisfy the twin conditions stipulated by section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), PTI reported.

Section 45 of the PMLA stipulates that bail can be given to a money-laundering accused if two conditions are met -- if the court is prima facie satisfied that the accused did not commit the offence and that he is unlikely to commit any offence while on bail.

Hemant Soren's re-entry into the political sphere comes at a crucial time as election to the 81-member Jharkhand legislative Assembly is scheduled to be held later this year. Soon after his release, Soren had slammed the ruling BJP for allegedly hatching a conspiracy against him. He further claimed that the saffron party will be wiped out from the state after the Assembly elections due later this year.

Addressing JMM workers at his residence, Soren said there would be a "revolt against those who plotted the conspiracy" to confine him in jail and "people of Jharkhand would not spare the BJP". "Time has come to put the last nail in BJP's coffin. In coming days, the BJP will be wiped out from Jharkhand," he said.

In the run up to the Assembly polls, the High Court's order will be an important aspect in Hemant's poll campaigns and is expected to further help JMM boost its political fortunes. Hemant's return to the top post will also be a morale boost for the JMM, and its broader alliance with Congress, as it readies for a tough contest against a resurgent BJP in the state.

Champai Soren managed to hold on to power by a whisker after the floor test earlier this year following Hemant's exit. While BJP saw it as an opportunity to turn the tables, it decided to wait for the Assembly elections where it sees a real chance of wresting power from the JMM-Congress alliance.

Jharkhand polls: What do the numbers say?

In the recent Lok Sabha polls, the Congress bagged two seats in the state, while its ally JMM secured three seats improving its tally from 2019 when it won just one seat.

Currently, the JMM-led alliance has a majority in the state assembly even as its strength has reduced to 45 MLAs. The JMM has 27 MLAs, the Congress has 17 and the RJD has 1. Two JMM MLAs, Nalin Soren and Joba Majhi, are now parliamentarians, while Jama legislator Sita Soren resigned to contest the general elections on a BJP ticket.

Opposition on leadership change:

The leadership change, meanwhile, has given an ammunition to BJP, who has termed JMM as a family-oriented party. "Hemant ji, as soon as you took oath, it became clear that no one from your party except your family can become the chief minister. With only 3 months left for the elections, your love for power reflects your selfish politics," said Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi.

"The removal of a senior tribal leader from the post of chief minister in Jharkhand by the JMM and Congress party is deeply distressing. I am certain that the people of Jharkhand will strongly condemn this action and firmly reject it," stated Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.