Champai Soren takes oath as Jharkhand chief minister, gets 10 days to prove his government's majority

After almost two days of political drama and uncertainty, JMM legislature party leader Champai Soren took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand on Friday. The 67-year-old tribal leader was sworn in as the 12th chief minister of Jharkhand. He became the sixth CM from the state’s Kolhan region which comprises East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. Champai Soren was administered the oath of office by Governor C P Radhakrishnan at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan in Ranchi. Senior leaders of the JMM-led alliance were present on the occasion. Along with Champai Soren, senior Congress leader Alamgir Alam and RJD leader Satyanand Bhokta took oath as state ministers. 10 days to prove majority Champai Soren has been given 10 days to prove his government’s majority, state Congress chief Rajesh Thakur said, whose party is a constituent of the JMM-led alliance. “We stand united. Our alliance is very strong. No one can break it,” Champai Soren said on Thursday. Champai Soren was appointed to the chief minister’s post on Thursday after he urged the governor to accept his claim to form the government at the earliest as there was “confusion” in the state which was without a chief minister since the resignation of Hemant Soren on Wednesday, deepening a political crisis. “We will take forward welfare schemes launched by Hemant Soren. I am committed to the development of Jharkhand,” the new CM said after taking oath. Champai Soren also said, “We will continue the fight for ‘Jal, Jungle, Jameen’ (water, forest, land) for all round development of tribals and others.” Soon after taking oath, Champai Soren paid homage to tribal icons Birsa Muda and Sidho Kanho who laid their lives fighting against the British colonial forces. Notably, JMM executive president Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land fraud after he resigned as Jharkhand chief minister. With inputs from PTI