Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren resigned amidst concerns of potential arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. The ED had recently conducted a search at his Delhi residence, seizing a BMW car and ₹36 lakh in cash. In a late-night development, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and MLAs supporting the Soren government elected senior cabinet minister Champai Soren as the leader of the legislative party and nominated him for the Chief Minister post.
Champai Soren, also known as the ‘Jharkhand Tiger,’ is a senior minister in the Hemant Soren government and the eldest son of Simal Soren, a farmer from Jilinggoda village in the Saraikela-Kharsawan district. He actively participated in the Jharkhand movement in the late 90s alongside Shibu Soren, earning him the moniker ‘Jharkhand Tiger.’ Despite receiving education up to the 10th grade from a government school and getting married at a young age with four sons and three daughters, Champai Soren emerged as a prominent political figure.
Starting his political career by becoming an independent MLA through a by-election on the Saraikela seat, Champai Soren gained experience and recognition. He was later appointed as a cabinet minister in the BJP government led by Arjun Munda, holding important ministries from September 11, 2010, to January 18, 2013. Following the President’s rule, when Hemant Soren formed a government in the state, Champai Soren assumed the role of Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Transport.
The sudden change in leadership comes in the backdrop of the ED’s actions against Hemant Soren and the subsequent decision to elect Champai Soren as the new Chief Minister. As Jharkhand navigates this transition, Champai Soren’s experience in both governance and political movements will play a crucial role in leading the state through this period of change.
