As Jharkhand’s chief minister, Champai takes his oath, and 38 Mahagathbandhan MLAs gather in Hyderabad

RANCHI: Champai Soren, a veteran of the JMM and a Seraikela MLA, took the oath of office as the state’s 7th chief minister along with two ministers on Friday at noon, ending the two days of political unrest in Jharkhand after Hemant Soren’s detention by the ED and his resignation from the chief ministership.

The inauguration of Alamgir Alam of the Congress and Satyanand Bhokta of the RJD completed the ceremonial formalities involved in restoring the coalition government, which had been periodically shaken by the ED’s investigation into a land fraud purportedly implicating Soren.
By that time, two charter aircraft were carrying 38 of the 48 MLAs of the Mahagathbandhan, commanded by the JMM, to Hyderabad. Due to inclement weather, the MLAs, who were supposed to be on the southern shores the night before, are probably going to remain in Hyderabad till the assembly’s floor test is scheduled.
Champai declares, “Adivasi asmita will continue to guide our government.”
Shortly after taking office as chief minister of Jharkhand on Friday, JMM’s Champai Soren (67) and two ministers from the Congress and RJD traveled to Birsa Chowk’s Sidho-Kanho Park to honor the legendary tribal freedom warriors who fought for their independence. At 1:30 p.m., the three of them went to Ranchi’s Project Building for their first cabinet meeting.
Champai informed reporters that “Adivasi asmita,” or the belief in preserving tribal pride, will remain the guiding principle of government after assuming office. Under the direction of Hemant Soren Ji, our coalition government was populist and implemented a number of landmark programs for the underprivileged, marginalized, and disadvantaged. Maintaining the momentum of excellent governance that started in 2019 will be my main goal, he said.

Following the ex-CM’s arrest on Wednesday night, there was a political upheaval and coalition meetings, which led to Champai being crowned as the new leader.
In two days, the CM-designate made three knocks on Raj Bhavan’s door to assert his right to establish a new government. The invitation from the governor arrived late on Thursday. He also granted the new dispensation’s request to conduct a floor test over ten days.
Champai’s wife Manki Soren, JMM politicians Mahua Majhi (Rajya Sabha MP), Sita Soren (Jama MLA), and a few high-ranking coalition officials attended Friday’s Durbar Hall event.
JMM members supported the now-incarcerated former chief minister Soren by singing slogans outside Raj Bhavan.
Champai is a native of Jilinggora village in the Rajnagar block of the Seraikela-Kharsawan district. He has served as a minister three times and as an MLA six times since 1991. Prior to entering politics at the onset of the Jharkhand statehood movement, he completed his education up to Class X.
Ex-CM and state BJP president Babulal Marandi hailed the incoming chief minister and said that the government needed to crack down on corruption. “Champaiji was involved in the Jharkhand movement and has a long history of andolan, or the battle for tribal rights. We trust that he would act wisely and in the best interests of the state,” Dhanwar MLA Marandi remarked.
“We hope he (Champai) won’t be a rubber-stamp CM,” said Amar Bauri, the main opposition leader for the BJP in the legislature.