Out On Bail, Hemant Soren Takes Oath as 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand

Ranchi: A day after Chief Minister of Jharkhand Champai Soren tendered his resignation, JMM Executive Chief and former state CM Hemant Soren, on Thursday, took oath as the Chief Minister of the state at Raj Bhavan. Congress state unit president Rajesh Thakur said the decision was taken in a meeting of coalition partners at Soren's residence here. 

"Governor CP Radhakrishnan will administer the oath and office of secrecy to Hemant Soren at 5 pm at Raj Bhavan," the official said. The JMM, earlier in the day, said Soren would take oath as the chief minister on July 7 after Governor CP Radhakrishnan invited him to form government in the state. 

Later, the JMM-led coalition decided that Soren would take oath on Thursday. Notably, Champai Soren resigned as chief minister on Wednesday and Hemant Soren, who is out on bail in a money laundering case, staked a claim to form the government. A JMM-led alliance delegation met Governor Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. 

The delegation headed by Hemant Soren comprised Congress state unit president Rajesh Thakur, RJD minister Satyanand Bhokta and CPI(ML)-L MLA Vinod Singh. Kalpana Soren, the Gandey MLA and wife of Hemant Soren was also part of the delegation. 

Soren Becomes the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand

Soren, who took oath as the 13th CM of the state, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan here, an official said. Soren's father and JMM supremo Shibu Soren, his mother Rupi Soren, Kalpana Soren, Champai Soren and senior leaders of the JMM-led alliance were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after the High Court of Jharkhand granted bail to him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as the CM shortly before his arrest on January 31 by the Enforcement Directorate. (with PTI inputs)