• Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren took oath as the 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand on November 28.

• Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Soren at a function held in Morabadi ground in Ranchi.

• Prior to taking the oath, Soren met JMM president and his father Shibu Soren. 

• This is the fourth stint of the JMM leader as the Chief Minister.

• The JMM-led alliance stormed to victory, securing 56 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, while the BJP-led NDA managed 24 constituencies. The JMM achieved its highest-ever tally in the elections, winning 34 of the 43 seats it contested. The Congress secured 16, RJD four, and CPI(ML)L managed two seats in the INDIA bloc. 

• Hemant Soren retained the Barhait seat by defeating BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes in the Assembly polls. 

A political career shaped by numerous challenges

• Hemant Soren has had a turbulent but resilient political career, marked by legal battles and internal party struggles.

• Soren, 49, has become a formidable advocate for tribal rights and has carved out a prominent place in the state’s political landscape.

• Soren’s journey to the top has not been easy. From taking charge as CM at a young age to becoming a strong voice for tribal communities, his political career has been shaped by numerous challenges.

• Born on August 10, 1975, in Nemra village near Hazaribag, Soren’s early life was influenced by the political legacy of his father, Shibu Soren, the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

• However, Hemant was not initially seen as his father’s successor. His elder brother, Durga, was the designated heir, but after his untimely death in 2009, Hemant was thrust into the political spotlight and took over the leadership of the state.

• He did his intermediate studies at Patna High School and later enrolled in Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, though he dropped out.

• Soren began his political career in 2009 as a Rajya Sabha member, but his tenure there was short-lived. He resigned in 2010 to become Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-led Arjun Munda government. 

• However, the alliance collapsed in 2012, leading to President’s Rule in the state. Despite this setback, Soren’s resolve to lead Jharkhand never faltered.

• In 2013, Soren became the state’s youngest Chief Minister at the age of 38 with the support of Congress and RJD.

• However, his first term was short-lived, as the BJP took power in 2014, and Soren became Leader of the Opposition.

• A pivotal moment in his career came in 2016 when the BJP-led government attempted to amend laws protecting tribal land, such as the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act. 

• Soren led a massive movement to protect tribal rights, which not only earned him widespread support but also set the stage for his return to power.

• In 2019, Soren, with the backing of his allies Congress and RJD, reclaimed the Chief Minister’s office. His JMM party won 30 seats, its highest ever in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, signaling the growing popularity of his leadership.

• Soren’s tenure, however, hasn’t been free of controversy.

• In early 2023, he found himself embroiled in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. He was arrested shortly after resigning as Chief Minister on January 31. 

• Following nearly five months in jail, Soren was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in June, which observed that there was no likelihood of him committing the offence.

• Despite these challenges, his strong voice for the state’s tribal population has been central to his political identity.

• He has been at the forefront of initiatives that aim to empower tribals, ensuring they receive the benefits of the state’s economic growth.

• Under his leadership, the state government launched the ‘Apke Adhikar, Apki Sarkar, Apke Dwar’ scheme, which brought government services to the doorstep of the people.

• Furthermore, the expansion of the state’s pension scheme and the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana, which provides Rs 1,000 financial aid to women in the age bracket of 18-51 years, have become key pillars of his administration.

• He claims his government’s commitment to social welfare is also evident in the farmer loan waivers he announced in 2023, which were intended to benefit over 1.75 lakh farmers.

• Additionally, his government has waived outstanding electricity bills and introduced a scheme providing free electricity up to 200 units. 

• Throughout his political career, Soren has faced fierce opposition from the BJP, and he has repeatedly accused the central government of exploiting Jharkhand’s resources. 

• Soren’s political journey has also been fraught with internal party struggles.

• In 2022, he narrowly avoided disqualification as an MLA due to allegations surrounding a mining lease but managed to retain his position as CM. Despite such challenges, his leadership has remained resilient, and his ability to navigate political turbulence has strengthened his position.

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