Champai Soren on Wednesday tendered his resignation as Jharkhand chief minister to the governor.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren approached Governor CP Radhakrishnan and pushed his claim to form the government, succeeding incumbent Champai Soren, who resigned after Hemant returned from jail on June 28 after being granted bail by the high court in a money laundering case related to an alleged land scam.
STORY | Champai Soren resigns as Jharkhand CM, Hemant stakes claim to form govt
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(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/k9ODtZh0ZW
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 3, 2024
Earlier in the day, leaders and MLAs of the ruling coalition met at Champai Soren’s home and unanimously voted to elect Hemant Soren as the JMM legislature party leader.
INDIA गठबंधन के विधायक दल की बैठक में सभी सम्मानित सदस्यों के साथ बैठक हुई। pic.twitter.com/3A4zdM3DP0
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) July 3, 2024
Babulal Marandi, the state BJP head, blasted the JMM for favoring dynasty politics, claiming that tribal leaders other than the Soren family would be “kaam chalau (makeshift choices)”. He stated that the Soren family would use them as they wished and then throw them “like a fly in the milk.” Marandi stated that this experience served as a lesson for other tribal leaders in the ruling party.
“They need to recognize their boundaries. “They should understand that they are only supposed to be the Shibu Soren family’s palanquin,” Marandi added.
Champai Soren, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Jharkhand, focused on several key areas to address tribal welfare issues:
- Land Rights and Forest Rights Act (FRA): Champai Soren emphasized the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, ensuring that tribal communities received rightful ownership of forest land. This act recognizes the traditional rights of forest-dwelling communities over forest resources.
- Education and Skill Development: He worked to improve educational facilities in tribal areas, promoting access to quality education. Skill development programs were also initiated to enhance employment opportunities for tribal youth.
- Healthcare: Soren aimed to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in tribal regions. Initiatives included setting up health centers, improving maternal and child health services, and addressing malnutrition.
- Livelihood and Agriculture: The Chief Minister supported sustainable livelihoods by promoting agriculture, animal husbandry, and non-timber forest produce. He encouraged tribal communities to engage in income-generating activities.
- Social Inclusion: Champai Soren advocated for social inclusion and empowerment of tribal communities. He worked to eliminate discrimination and promote equal rights for all.
About Hemant Soren.
- Hemant Soren faced an arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a land scam case in January 2024. He contends that this was vindictive on the part of the central government, a stance shared by opposition parties. He secured bail and was released from jail in June 2024.