Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who was sworn in last week, has won the trust vote in the state assembly on Monday, July 8, 2024. Soren secured a comfortable majority with 45 MLAs supporting him.
Breakdown of Support
The JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) alliance has 45 MLAs:
- JMM: 27 MLAs
- Congress: 17 MLAs
- RJD:1 MLA
In contrast, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has 24 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly.
Reduced Assembly Strength
After the recent Lok Sabha elections, the number of MLAs in the Jharkhand assembly was reduced due to some becoming MPs, while others either resigned or were expelled. The current strength of the assembly is now 76, reducing the half-way mark to 38.
Soren’s Swearing-In and Past Challenges
Hemant Soren was sworn in as Jharkhand Chief Minister on July 4, 2024, succeeding Champai Soren, who stepped down months ahead of the assembly election.
“Today is July 4. On January 31, from the same place, I conveyed a message to you all on how the opposition conspired against me. They were successful. For five months, they tried to keep me inside the jail by different means. We took the legal path, and people supported us,” Soren said before taking the oath.
This event followed Hemant Soren’s release on bail regarding money laundering charges connected to an alleged land racket in the state capital. He was the second chief minister to be arrested by the federal agency just months before the Lok Sabha elections on January 31, 2024.
Transition of Leadership
Minutes before his arrest, Hemant Soren resigned as Chief Minister, passing the role to Champai Soren. Champai, a loyalist and close associate of Hemant’s father Shibu Soren, took charge on February 2, 2024.
JMM’s Performance
During Hemant Soren’s time in jail, JMM won three Lok Sabha seats, an increase from their previous tally of one seat in 2019. In the 2019 assembly elections, the JMM, in alliance with Congress and RJD, secured a majority with 47 seats in the 81-member house:
- JMM:30 seats
- Congress: 16 seats
- RJD: 1 seat
Hemant Soren’s successful trust vote solidifies his position as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, marking a significant moment in the state’s political landscape.
