JHARKHAND Mukti Morcha led coalition govt headed by Hemant Soren assumes office
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik have complemented Hemant Soren, 44, who has been sworn in as the 11th Chief Minister of mineral rich Jharkhand in eastern India. A galaxy of Opposition leaders including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Rajasthan counterpart Ashok Gehlot, DMK chief Stalin INC leader Rahul Gandhi,CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, his CPI counterpart Doraisamy Raja and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy were in attendance in the swearing-in ceremony at Ranchi on Sunday, December 29. Jharkhand Congress leaders Alamgir Alam, Rameshwar Oraon and RJD legislator Satyanand Bhokta also took the oath as ministers during the event which was dubbed as “Sankalp Diwas” by the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance. Sources said Hemant Soren is likely to include nine more ministers into his Cabinet by next week. Grand alliance insiders from Ranchi said Mr Soren is likely to induct at least six more legislators from his party and five more from the Congress. The three-party alliance comprising the JMM, Congress and RJD has won 47 out of the 81 seats in the Assembly elections. The Hemant Soren-led JMM with 30 seats emerged as the largest party in Jharkhand, while the Congress won 16 and RJD one seat. The BJP clinched 25 seats, the AJSU two, JVM-P three and others four seats. This was the second state to slip out of the BJP’s grasp since the NDA’s sweeping victory in the Lok Sabha polls. Reports suggest that a team of election strategists and a massive social media campaign helped Mr Soren and his alliance partners defeat the BJP in the Assembly polls. The huge Opposition turnout is also being seen as a major boost for the RJD and Congress preparing to get into a direct electoral battle with the JD(U)-BJP combine in the Bihar Assembly elections in 2020. “All of us are confident that the NDA will be wiped out and a grand alliance government will be formed in Bihar in 2020. Under the leadership of Hemant Soren, the government will work for the masses and the state will develop fast,” said Bihar former CM Rabri Devi. After the ceremony, Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “I attended the swearing in ceremony of CM Hemant Soren Ji and ministers from the Congress party in Ranchi today. I’m confident that the new Government in Jharkhand will work for the benefit of all citizens and usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the state.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Hemant Soren on being sworn in as chief minister of Jharkhand, and he assured all possible support from the Centre for the state’s growth.(with picture courtesy to News 18)
