Explained: How Hemant Soren Avoided President’s Rule In Jharkhand

New Delhi: 

In his remarks in Jharkhand Assembly ahead of the trust vote, Chief Minister Champai Soren referred to his predecessor as “Hemant Babu” and added that he will run the government as “Hemant Soren Part 2”. The jailed former Chief Minister, who was forced to resign amid allegations of money laundering, also addressed the House for a longer duration than the incumbent. Overall, Champai Soren was facing the trust vote, but Hemant Soren led the charge.

The 48-year-old working president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, who started his political career in the shadow of his father and party founder Shibu Soren, has surprised many over the past week with deft political moves that helped save the government in Jharkhand. Here’s how Hemant Soren managed to prevent President’s rule in the state and facilitate a smooth transfer of power to his close aide.Last Monday, a team of Enforcement Directorate officials reached Hemant Soren’s Delhi residence and conducted searches in connection with the money laundering case against him. Official sources said Mr Soren was untraceable and even his staff members were clueless about his whereabouts. The BJP was quick to seize the opportunity and declare the Chief Minister “missing” and claim that Jharkhand was in the middle of a constitutional crisis. The JMM, however, kept assuring that they are in touch with Hemant Soren and he will appear before the agency on January 31. The plane on which Hemant Soren had reached Delhi remained parked in the airport, and ED officials said they had no idea about where he was.