Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and former chief minister Hemant Soren, who recently got bail in the money laundering case in connection with land scam, took oath as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the third time today. The swearing-in was held at the Raj Bhawan in Ranchi. On January 31, Hemant Soren resigned as the chief minister after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioning, leading to his arrest. 

Soon after Hemant Soren’s arrest, then-cabinet minister Champai Soren took charge as the state chief minister. Jharkhand High Court last week granted bail to the former chief minister, enabling him to continue his political career. Notably, Champai Soren on Wednesday resigned from the post to pave the way for Hemant Soren. 

मैं हेमन्त सोरेन ईश्वर की शपथ लेता हूं… pic.twitter.com/7uRGYmMX2l

— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) July 4, 2024

Read Also: “Upset” Champai Soren Quits As Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren Set For Round 2

Champai Soren’s resignation was followed by a meeting of INDIA bloc MLAs at the official residence of the Chief Minister in Ranchi. A consensus was reached over the change of guard in the state during the meeting. Later, Hemant Soren was elected the leader of the legislative party of the INDIA-bloc, The New Indian Express reported. 

The Governor then invited Hemant Soren to the Raj Bhawan at 12:30 and invited him to form the government. He was accompanied by his wife and Gandey MLA Kalpana Soren, CPIML MLA Vinod Singh, RJD MLA and Minister Satyanand Bhokta and state Congress president Rajesh Thakur.

Read Also: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren Resigned, Champai Soren Is The Replace: Report

Notably, the development comes amid reports that the ED may approach the Supreme Court soon with a special leave petition (SLP) against a recent Jharkhand High Court order that granted bail to the JMM leader in the money-laundering case. 

Hemant Soren had rejected the allegations terming it a political vendetta against Dalit and backward leaders.