Hemant Soren takes oath as Jharkhand CM for third term

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren on Thursday took oath as the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand, a day after Champai Soren stepped down from the post.

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He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor C P Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan here.

Soren’s father and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo Shibu Soren, his mother Rupi Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and senior leaders of the JMM-led alliance were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Champai Soren, who resigned as the chief minister on Wednesday after remaining in the post for nearly five months, was also present on the occasion. He had taken over as chief minister after the arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31.

Hemant Soren, 48, was released from jail on June 28 after the High Court of Jharkhand granted bail to him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as the CM shortly before his arrest by the ED.

After taking the oath, Soren said former CM Champai Soren discharged his duties well. The court order is in the public domain for all to see, the JMM executive president said, adding that he would discharge his duties with commitment.

In a video message to people, Hemant Soren said that a conspiracy was hatched against him by the opposition which had succeeded in their “evil designs” and he had to spend about five months behind bars.