Champai sworn in as CM: Hemant in 5-day custody

Champai Soren became the seventh person to take oath as Jharkhand's chief minister on Friday, resolving for now the instability roiling the state after the dramatic arrest of his predecessor Hemant Soren over money laundering allegations two days ago.

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Champai Soren, the 67-year-old minister who was elected leader of Jharkhand's ruling coalition hours before Hemant Soren's arrest, was sworn in alongside two other members Alamgir Alam from the Congress and Satyanand Bhokta from the Rashtriya Janata Dal - even as the alliance shifted 35 legislators to Hyderabad, the capital of Congress-ruled Telangana.

"We will take forward welfare schemes launched by Hemant Soren. I am committed to the development of Jharkhand, We will continue the fight for jal, jungle, jameen (water, forest, land)," he said, referring to a slogan made famous by tribal icon Komaram Bheem.

Champai Soren's swearing-in caps a dramatic 48 hours in Ranchi that began with the arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate at 10pm on Wednesday, minutes after his resignation. In a letter addressed to his party's legislators before his arrest, Hemant Soren confirmed transport minister Champai Soren as the new legislature party leader.

Champai Soren and his backers met governor CP Radhakrishnan twice over two days, furnishing letters of support from 43 legislators in an 81-member assembly, with one seat lying vacant. Finally, around 11pm on Thursday, the governor invited Champai Soren to form the government and gave him 10 days to prove his majority on the floor of the House.