Hemant Soren to be sworn in as Jharkhand CM on Nov 28

Hemant Soren, the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is poised to take the oath as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the fourth time on November 28. Soren, elected as the leader of the INDIA bloc in the state, will formally meet Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar on November 24 at 4 pm to stake his claim to form the new government. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Morabadi Maidan in Ranchi, a significant venue for political events in the state.

The ceremony will be attended by several high-profile leaders from the opposition INDIA alliance, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. The event marks the consolidation of the INDIA alliance in Jharkhand, reaffirming its hold in the state after the recent assembly elections.

Soren’s return to power follows a strong victory by the JMM-led alliance in the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections. The coalition, which includes the JMM, Congress, RJD, and CPI-ML, secured 56 seats in the 81-member state assembly. The JMM itself won 34 seats, while Congress secured 16, RJD won 4, and CPI-ML claimed 2 seats. This outcome ensures the continued dominance of the JMM in the state, with the alliance able to form the next government comfortably.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced a significant defeat, securing only 21 seats, marking one of its worst performances since Jharkhand’s formation in 2000. Despite efforts to increase its presence in the state, especially in tribal areas, the BJP was unable to challenge the JMM-led coalition effectively. The JMM-led alliance’s success in securing 27 out of 28 tribal-reserved seats demonstrated its ongoing support among tribal communities, which are a crucial voter base for the party.

Hemant Soren’s leadership has been pivotal in securing this mandate, following a period of political turbulence earlier in 2024. After resigning as Chief Minister amid allegations of corruption linked to mining leases, Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate and spent several months in prison. He was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court before returning to active politics. His victory in the Barhait assembly constituency, where he defeated BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom by 39,791 votes, was a significant milestone in his political comeback.

The JMM-led alliance’s strong performance was driven by its firm base of support in tribal areas and its focus on addressing the needs of the tribal population. The alliance’s policies, including welfare initiatives for tribal communities and local governance, were central to its appeal. Moreover, the alliance managed to secure significant victories in both rural and urban constituencies, expanding its reach beyond traditional strongholds. This broad-based support was crucial in overcoming anti-incumbency sentiments and securing a second consecutive term in power for the alliance.