WHY HEMANT SOREN REPLACING CHAMPAI AS JHARKHAND CM MAY BACKFIRE

New Delhi: Although, outgoing Champai Soren congratulated 'Hemant Babu' on being sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, five months after stepping down, buzz around the development suggested that Champai was not keen on vacating the chair. Initial reports had suggested that Champai would continue till Assembly polls, due to be held later this year, and Hemant Soren will only take over if the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition is voted to power.

Champai Soren, considered a loyalist of Shibu Soren, was handed over the responsibility to carry forward the JMM-led coalition government in the state following Hemant Soren's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case regarding the alleged land scam case. Hemant Soren was arrested by ED on January 31, within hours of his resignation. Following this, considered number 3 in JMM, Champai Soren was unanimously elected as the leader of the coalition. He took oath as the 12th CM of Jharkhand on February 2.

Hemant In, Champai Out

Hemant Soren took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand on July 4, six days after walking out of the Birsa Munda Jail. Champai Soren resigned from the CM post on Wednesday, clearing the way for Hemant Soren.

Congratulating Hemant Soren for returning as the Jharkhand CM, Champai Soren said, "I congratulate 'Hemant Babu' for the formation of the new government. I congratulate all our alliance members..."

Did Champai Step-Down Willingly?

Champai Soren's exit on Wednesday was as dramatic as his entry. Reports suggest that Champai Soren wished to continue till the next assembly elections, however, he had to step down as JMM legislatures along with allies Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) rallied behind Hemant Soren.

Champai Soren felt insulted after he was asked to step down, said reports. As he tendered his resignation, Champai Soren was accompanied by Hemant Soren to Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

"We all know what happened with Hemant Soren and he was forced to resign. Our alliance, however, is strong and we have made a leadership change today. Hemant Soren has been selected as alliance's legislature party leader and I have resigned willingly," Champai said after tendering his resignation.

Champai Soren: 'Tiger of Kolhan'

Champai debuted in politics by getting elected as an independent MLA through a by-election from the Saraikela seat in undivided Bihar in 1991.

Four years later, he contested the Assembly polls from the seat on JMM ticket and defeated BJP's Panchu Tudu. In the 2000 assembly elections, the first one held in the state, he was defeated from the same constituency by the BJP's Anant Ram Tudu. He regained the seat in 2005 by defeating the BJP candidate by a margin of only 880 votes. He went to win the 2009, 2014 and 2019 elections.

He served as a cabinet minister in the BJP government headed by Arjun Munda between September 2010 to January 2013 and went on to join Hemant's government as Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Transport in 2019.

Can Champai Soren's Exit Backfire?

Champai Soren, who once tilled fields with his father in a remote village in Jharkhand’s Saraikela-Kharsawan district, has gained victory in seven elections. He is popularly referred to as 'Jharkhand's Tiger' and 'Tiger of Kolhan' among his supporters. He has contributed to the long fight for the creation of a separate state in the 1990s and enjoys a massive support base in the Kolhan region.

Champai rallied behind Kalpana Soren as she made her political debut from Gandey assembly bypoll following her husband's arrest and didn't ask her to vacate the CM's residence. If the Hemant Soren-led government fails to accommodate Champai Soren, it may face a tough battle in over 14 seats of Kolhan region.

While JMM may bank upon Chaibasa MLA Deepak Birua and newly-elected MP Jobha Manjhi, Champai Soren's influence remains unmatched. Reports claimed that if Champai feels uncomfortable to go back to the position he had before, he might be appointed as the JMM's executive president.

How BJP Reacted

The Bharatiya Janata Party has called 'removal' of Champai Soren 'unceremonious' alleging that there is no space for any leader in JMM apart from the family members.

Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo said, "Hemant Soren is again all set to become the chief minister and unceremoniously he has removed the present chief minister, Champai Soren from his post.. We think it's an insult to the tribals of the state of Jharkhand because, for the Soren family, nobody outside the family has any right, be it a tribal, be it a non-tribal, to become the chief minister."

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi asserted that the tribals outside Shibu Soren’s family are only temporary faces in JMM. He also alleged that the family believes in using people as per their needs and requirements.

Taking a swipe over dynasty politics, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said that people outside of the family have no future. "The Champai Soren era is over in Jharkhand. In the family-oriented party, people outside the family have no political future. I wish the chief minister drew inspiration from Bhagwan Birsa Munda and stood up against the corrupt Hemant Soren ji," said Dubey in a post on X.

2024-07-04T13:59:31Z dg43tfdfdgfd