The Jharkhand ruling alliance has elected Champai Soren as the JMM legislative party leader, as confirmed by Congress’s state unit chief Rajesh Thakur on Wednesday.
This development arises amid speculations of the potential arrest of the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Soren faced more than six hours of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in his official residence, surrounded by heavy security cover and amid busy political activities.
Champai Soren, a prominent tribal leader and politician from Jharkhand, currently holds the position of Minister of Transport, Scheduled Tribes, and Scheduled Caste & Backward class welfare in the Jharkhand government. He has been a member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly since 2005.
Amidst the political upheaval in Jharkhand, objections were raised over the name of Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana, as the next Chief Minister. JMM MLA Sita Soren, Hemant Soren’s sister-in-law, voiced her objection, questioning why Kalpana Soren, who lacks political experience and isn’t an MLA, is being considered when there are senior leaders in the party. Kalpana Soren was present at the alliance legislators’ meeting at the CM’s residence on Tuesday.