Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren resigned as Chief Minister on Wednesday, just five months after taking office, to make way for former CM Hemant Soren’s return. Champai submitted his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi. The Governor will now schedule the swearing-in ceremony for Hemant Soren and his ministers.

Champai Soren, closely associated with JMM founder and Hemant’s father Shibu Soren, became Chief Minister on February 2, two days after Hemant’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged land scam. Hemant was released on bail by the Jharkhand High Court on June 28, which noted there was reason to believe he was “not guilty of the offence.”

After his release from jail, Hemant Soren claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy, saying, “I was falsely implicated. A conspiracy was hatched against me and I was forced to spend five months in jail. I respect the judiciary. The court delivered its order and I am out (on bail). But the judicial process is long.”

Champai Soren, who was reportedly upset over being asked to resign, told the media, “When the leadership had changed, I was given responsibility. You know the sequence of events. After Hemant Soren came back, we (the coalition) picked him as our leader and I have resigned. I am following the decision taken by the coalition.”

The Jharkhand government is run by a coalition of the JMM, Congress, RJD and the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation.

Champai, who is seen as the third in command in JMM, is likely to be named the party’s Executive President.

On Wednesday, JMM elected Hemant Soren as the legislature party leader, setting the stage for his return as Chief Minister. This decision countered speculation that Champai would remain in office until the Jharkhand Assembly elections later this year.

JMM holds 27 seats in the 81-member Assembly, the Congress has 18, and RJD and CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation have one each. The BJP, with 24 seats, slammed Hemant Soren and reiterated accusations of dynastic politics against his family.