Hemant Soren Wins Jharkhand Trust Vote, Prepares for Cabinet Expansion

Ranchi, Jharkhand: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren secured a decisive victory in the state Assembly’s trust vote on Monday, July 8, with 45 MLAs backing him. Sworn in last week, Soren’s win sets the stage for an imminent cabinet expansion, as confirmed by Congress leader and Poreyahat MLA Pradeep Yadav.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) alliance, comprising 27 JMM members, 17 Congress members, and one Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) member, commands a majority in the 81-member Assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trails with 24 MLAs. The Assembly’s effective strength currently stands at 76, following several members’ transitions to the Lok Sabha, resignations, and expulsions, lowering the halfway mark to 38 and facilitating Soren’s majority.

Soren took office on July 4, succeeding Champai Soren, who resigned months before the upcoming Assembly elections. Reflecting on his journey, Soren recounted the political struggles and legal battles that culminated in his victory. His swearing-in followed his release on bail amid money laundering charges tied to a land racket in the state capital.

Soren’s arrest on January 31 marked the second instance of a Jharkhand chief minister’s apprehension by federal authorities just months before the Lok Sabha elections. In a dramatic turn, he resigned shortly before his arrest, handing over leadership to Champai Soren, a trusted ally and associate of his father, Shibu Soren. Despite Hemant Soren’s imprisonment, the JMM achieved significant success in the Lok Sabha elections, securing three seats — two more than in 2019.

The JMM’s coalition with Congress and RJD in the 2019 Assembly elections garnered a robust majority, winning 47 seats in the 81-member house, with JMM, Congress, and RJD claiming 30, 16, and one seat, respectively.