From Jail to Power: Hemant Soren's remarkable political comeback in Jharkhand

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren has scripted a stunning political comeback, securing a second consecutive term as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The victory comes at the end of a tumultuous year for Mr. Soren, who began 2024 with an arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a land scam case and months of political challenges within and outside his party.

Arrested in January, Mr. Soren had resigned as Chief Minister before being taken into custody. Released on bail in June after the Jharkhand High Court ruled that he was prima facie not guilty, he returned to power despite defections and dissent within his party. Key allies, including his sister-in-law Sita Soren and senior party leader Champai Soren, joined the BJP earlier this year, citing grievances over party decisions. However, Mr. Soren held his ground, strengthened his alliance with Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and led his coalition to a thumping victory, winning 55 of the 81 Assembly seats.

The JMM alone improved its tally from 30 seats in 2019 to a projected 33 this year, reinforcing Mr. Soren’s leadership despite the challenges. The BJP, which aggressively campaigned against the ruling coalition, secured only 25 seats. Issues such as "infiltration" and internal conflicts in the ruling alliance failed to stop the INDIA coalition from retaining power.

This victory not only reinstates Hemant Soren as the Chief Minister but also strengthens the INDIA alliance’s position in the state, cementing the JMM's dominance in Jharkhand politics.