Jharkhand's Chief Minister Champai Soren has resigned, paving the way for his son Hemant Soren to return to the position of Chief Minister. Hemant Soren, who had previously served as CM for two terms, was unanimously elected leader of the ruling alliance's legislators at a meeting where he was released on bail after being jailed for five months on a money laundering charge. The move has been criticized by opposition spokesperson Vinay Singh, who accused of dynastic politics, but alliance leaders state that the move is for a unified command ahead of the upcoming State elections in October.
Since its formation, the state of Jharkhand has seen a revolving door of Chief Ministers, with none completing a full term except for BJP's Raghubar Das. From Babulal Marandi's short-lived tenure to the recent legal troubles of Hemant Soren, the state's political landscape has been prone to constant upheaval. Now, as Hemant Soren takes oath as Chief Minister for the third time, it marks a new chapter in Jharkhand's turbulent history of Chief Ministers.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has announced Champai Soren as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand, replacing Hemant Soren. This decision comes after rumors of Hemant's wife Kalpana being considered for the post in case of his arrest. Champai is a senior leader of the JMM and has previously served as Cabinet Minister in Hemant's government. He was known as the "Jharkhand Tiger" during the movement for a separate state in the late 90s.