Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is expected to step down soon, with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claiming that his wife, Kalpana, will take over. This comes after a JMM MLA resigned from the Assembly, citing personal reasons.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, the MLA from Gandey, stated that his resignation aims to strengthen the party, coalition, and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, denying any bitterness.
Sources suggest that Hemant Soren, facing an ED probe into a corruption case, fears possible arrest. Allegedly, he has planned to pass the leadership to his wife, Kalpana.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey anticipates challenges for the Soren family in the new year, stating that Sarfaraz Ahmed’s resignation has been accepted, and Hemant Soren is likely to resign soon.
The BJP emphasizes the need for legal advice from the Jharkhand Governor, asserting that elections cannot be held within a year of the Jharkhand Assembly formation. Dubey notes that JMM is more aligned with Shibu Soren than Hemant Soren, expressing hope for an NDA win in the upcoming bypoll.
The development follows fresh summons from the ED to Hemant Soren for questioning in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act case.
This marks the seventh summons in the ongoing investigation related to illegal land ownership changes in Jharkhand, with Soren previously accusing the Centre of targeting opposition leaders ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite petitions to the Supreme Court and Jharkhand High Court, Soren’s summons challenges have been turned down.