- Amid an ongoing money laundering investigation, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren faces the prospect of arrest.
- Sources reveal that if Hemant Soren is apprehended, his wife, Kalpana Soren, may step into the role of Chief Minister.
- Ms Soren is not an MLA, and if sworn in as the Chief Minister, she will have to become a member of the assembly by winning a by-election within six months.
- The Enforcement Directorate is set to question Mr. Soren today regarding his alleged involvement in a ₹600-crore land scam.
- In the face of the allegations, Chief Minister Hemant Soren contends that he is the victim of a vast conspiracy.
Amid an ongoing money laundering investigation, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren faces the prospect of arrest, leading to speculation within his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Party about a contingency plan. Sources reveal that if Hemant Soren is apprehended, his wife, Kalpana Soren, may step into the role of Chief Minister, a claim reportedly made during a meeting with MLAs of the ruling alliance.
The Enforcement Directorate is set to question Mr. Soren today regarding his alleged involvement in a ₹600-crore land scam. The agency accuses him of being part of a “huge racket” responsible for manipulating the ownership of government land, subsequently selling it to developers. Fourteen individuals, including high-profile figures like 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, have already been arrested in connection with the case.
Kalpana Soren, the wife of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, might take over the top job if her husband gets arrested in an alleged money laundering case, sources in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Party have claimed.
Ms Soren is not an MLA, and if sworn in as the Chief Minister, she will have to become a member of the assembly by winning a by-election within six months. But there’s a hurdle in this case: a bypoll may be ruled out since the term of the assembly ends in less than a year.
Acknowledging the potential ramifications of the investigation, MLAs from the ruling alliance, particularly Banna Gupta, the state’s health minister representing the Congress party, have expressed unwavering support for Chief Minister Hemant Soren. However, the looming legal hurdle complicates the prospect of Kalpana Soren assuming the leadership role.
Constitutional provisions dictate that if the Assembly’s term expires in less than a year, by-polls cannot be conducted. With the Jharkhand Assembly elections scheduled for November, the timing poses a challenge for a seamless transition. In response, sources suggest that legal opinions will be sought or an alternative leader may be considered if the need arises.
In the face of the allegations, Chief Minister Hemant Soren contends that he is the victim of a vast conspiracy. As the political landscape in Jharkhand remains uncertain, the potential succession plan underscores the efforts to ensure the stability of the government amid the ongoing legal proceedings.
(With inputs from agencies)
