Champai Soren awaits Guv invite to take oath as Jharkhand CM

Champai Soren, senior-most JMM minister and close aide of Shibu Soren, was on Wednesday elected the legislative party leader of the ruling coalition in Jharkhand at a joint meeting of JMM and Congress MLAs after Hemant Soren resigned as Jharkhand CM.

The four-time Saraikela MLA is currently minister of transport and ST, SC and Backward Class welfare in the government and JMM vice president. Even as ED was questioning Hemant Soren, all JMM and Congress MLAs gathered at the CM's residence and Champai was elected as the leader of the legislative party. MLAs then met the governor and submitted a letter of support, and requested the governor to give time for swearing-in.

Sources told ET that there were 43 MLAs who signed the letter presented before the governor. One assembly seat is currently vacant and one MLA was not present due to ill health. Jharkhand has an 82-member assembly, with one nominated member and the majority mark is 42.


There was a lot of speculation about Hemant Soren putting forward his wife's name for the CM's post. However, discussions among the party leaders and Congress leadership led to Champai Soren being selected as the new leader. Champai Soren will take oath as per the schedule provided by Governor CP Radhakrishnan.