Is Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana set to be the new Jharkhand CM?

It almost sounds like a television show, but, in fact, it’s reality.

As Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren prepares to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to record his statement in an alleged land fraud case, and rumours of his arrest are swirling, there’s speculation that his wife, Kalpana Soren, will take over the chief ministerial post.

While Soren’s party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has refuted this speculation, it has got credence after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey made a similar claim.

But who is Kalpana Soren? And how did we get here?

Who is Kalpana Soren?

Born in 1976 in Ranchi, Kalpana grew up in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district and has no political background. Her father is a businessman and her mother a homemaker. She did her graduation in engineering, followed by an MBA.

On 7 February 2006, Kalpana tied the knot with Hemant Soren and today, the couple has two children — Nikhil and Ansh.

Kalpana has refrained from entering the political sphere and is an entrepreneur and a social worker. It is reported that she runs a school and has a huge interest in organic farming. An NDTV report has stated that she owns three commercial buildings, whose value is worth nearly Rs 5 crores.

She is also regularly seen at state programmes linked to women and children empowerment.

When it comes to wealth and assets, Kalpana Soren, as per the election affidavit submitted by her husband in 2019, is a millionaire. It was then revealed that she had Rs 2,55,240 deposited in her various bank accounts. The couple also are in possession of various LIC policies amounting to Rs 70 lakhs. Moreover, they are owners of gold and silver jewellery worth over Rs 34 lakhs.

While she has stayed far from politics, Kalpana has been advising Hemant on numerous matters. Reports state that she was also present at the meeting with MLAs on Tuesday morning in Ranchi.

However, there’s a legal hurdle in Kalpana taking over. As per the Constitution, if the term of the Assembly will expire in less than a year, by-polls cannot be held. In that case, it would be difficult for Kalpana Soren to become an MLA. Elections in Jharkhand is due in November this year.

Why the rumours of her ascension?

Talks of Kalpana Soren having to step into her husband’s chief ministerial shoes come as many believe that Hemant Soren’s arrest in a money laundering case is imminent.

The case pertains to an alleged land scam linked to the ownership of a 7.16-acre land parcel in Ranchi, which the central agency claims was acquired through the “proceeds of crime” involving illegal sale of Army land.

The investigating agency had earlier insisted that Soren appear for questioning before 31 January, a move that the chief minister claims is “politically motivated.” In fact, in an email to officials of the Enforcement Directorate, the Jharkhand chief minister wrote, “You are well aware that the Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly will be held between 2 and 29 February 2024 and the undersigned will be pro-occupied with preparations for the same apart from other prior scheduled official engagements.

In these circumstances, your insistence to record a further statement of the undersigned on or before 31 January 2024 rocks of malice and reveals your political agenda to disrupt the functioning of the state government and prevent an elected representative of the people from discharging his official duties.”

On Monday (29 January), officials from the ED showed up at Soren’s official residence in New Delhi and during their searches seized two BMWs, some incriminating documents and Rs 36 lakh in cash. The ED team was unable to question Soren as he was not at home and was “ missing”.

Where did Soren go ‘missing’?

When ED officials came knocking at Soren’s door in New Delhi, he was unavailable, with many claiming that he had gone ‘missing’ for 24 hours. His party, the JMM, however, maintained that Soren was safe and in touch with them.

It is reported that Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on 27 January left for Delhi from Ranchi. While the official reason for the visit is unknown, some say that he was in the Capital for “legal consultations” on the matter.

An IndiaToday report states that Soren was aware that ED officials would appear at his residence for questioning and hence, undertook a 1,292 km road journey from Delhi to Ranchi on Monday.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, in a post on X, alleged that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal helped Soren in reaching Varanasi from Delhi. “From Varanasi, Soren was taken to Ranchi by JMM minister Mithlesh Thakur,” Dubey tweeted.

And after 30 hours of being ‘missing’, Soren arrived at his official residence in Ranchi on Tuesday. He was seen smiling and waving at the media persons. The chief minister also held two meetings with all the ruling alliance MLAs and his wife, Kalpana, was also present at one of them.

When he was later asked about his whereabouts, Soren cheekily replied, “Hum aapke ke dil mein the. (I was in your heart).”

Notably, while Soren went AWOL, the BJP announced that it would give cash awards to anyone who could provide information on the CM’s whereabouts. BJP’s state president Babulal Marandi, wrote on X: “The people have breathed a sigh of relief as the CM returned…. How much pain Hemant Ji endured as he travelled 1,295 km between Delhi and Jharkhand by evading central agencies? Poor Hemant Ji must be cursing those who suggested that he should visit New Delhi.”

With inputs from agencies