Jharkhand: Hemant Soren arrested by ED, resigns from the post of CM, command given to Champai Soren

A big political stir is being seen in Jharkhand. Hemant Soren resigned from the post of Chief Minister on Wednesday and shortly thereafter the Central Investigation Agency (ED) arrested him. ED started interrogating him in the CM office at around 1.30 pm.

Hemant Soren reached Raj Bhavan in ED custody at around 8.30 pm and resigned from the post of Chief Minister. The Governor accepted his resignation.

Immediately after resigning, the ED team took Soren to their office, where he was arrested. Now he will be produced in the court on Thursday (February 1) and ED will demand custody. Shortly before the arrest, the Chief Secretary and DGP of Jharkhand reached the CM headquarters. Strict security arrangements have been made here. Police has been kept on alert in Ranchi. Section 144 has been imposed near ED office, Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister’s office.

Now Champai Soren, close to Hemant Soren, will be the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He was elected the leader of the legislative party amidst the questioning of Hemant Soren and all the MLAs reached Raj Bhavan in three buses with the letter related to this. The letter is signed by 47 MLAs.

Before Champai Soren, the name of Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren was in the race for CM. However, voices of protest began to be raised within the family regarding Kalpana. According to news agency PTI, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA and party supremo Shibu Soren’s elder daughter-in-law Sita Soren openly said that she will oppose any move to make Kalpana Soren the Chief Minister.

Sita Soren is the wife of late Durga Soren, elder son of Shibu Soren. When the legislative party meeting was held on Tuesday (January 30), Sita Soren was not present. After this, speculations of resentment started.

Kalpana Soren is not an MLA and she was present in the JMM legislature party meeting. Amid speculations about Kalpana being made the CM, Sita Soren said that there are many senior leaders in the party to whom the reins can be handed over. If they want to elect from one family, I am the senior most in the House and have been an MLA for almost 14 years.

With voices of protest being raised in the family, Champai Soren, MLA from Seraikela seat, was elected leader in the legislative party meeting. Champai is the vice president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

After leaving Raj Bhavan, Champai Soren said that we have staked claim to form the government. We have the support of 47 MLAs. There is no time yet for the oath. The Governor has said that he will decide the time soon.

Let us tell you that on Monday (January 29), ED had raided Hemant Soren’s residence in Shanti Niketan in New Delhi. Soren was not found here. Soren, who remained out of reach of ED for several hours, reached the CM residence on Tuesday afternoon and gave time to ED on January 31. Sources said that Soren reached Ranchi by road from Delhi. Amidst the ED action, speculations started that Soren would be arrested. ED had issued 10 summons to Soren, but he did not appear. ED had interrogated him on January 20

Amidst the arrest of Hemant Soren, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge targeted the Central Government. He said, “Whoever did not go with Modi ji will go to jail.” Applying ED against Jharkhand Chief Minister, Shri Hemant Soren and forcing him to resign is a blow to federalism.” He said that the BJP’s work of destabilizing the opposition governments one by one as part of a conspiracy is continuing. What went into BJP’s washing machine is clean as white, what didn’t go is tainted? If democracy has to be saved from dictatorship then BJP will have to be defeated.