In a dramatic turn of events, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a land scam case shortly after he resigned from his position. The arrest followed over seven hours of questioning by ED officials at his official residence in Ranchi. Jharkhand Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan accepted Hemant Soren’s resignation.
Reacting to his arrest, Hemant Soren has challenged the decision in the Jharkhand High Court, with the hearing scheduled for Thursday. The arrest has sparked protests, with various tribal bodies calling for a bandh in protest against the detention.
Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and Transport Minister Champai Soren was swiftly elected as the leader of the Legislature Party after Hemant Soren’s resignation. Champai Soren, a five-time MLA from Seraikela, expressed confidence in forming the government, citing the support of 47 MLAs, well above the required majority of 41.
Earlier in the day, members of the JMM-led alliance attempted to meet the Governor to seek a parade of MLAs before him to prove the majority, but the Governor declined the meeting. The political landscape in Jharkhand is evolving rapidly, with the arrest of Hemant Soren adding a new dimension to the state’s political dynamics.
