RANCHI: Two days of political uncertainty in Jharkhand following Hemant Soren’s arrest by ED and his resignation from the chief ministership ended at noon Friday with JMM veteran and Seraikela MLA Champai Soren taking the oath of office as the state’s 7th CM along with two ministers.
Congress’s Alamgir Alam and RJD’s Satyanand Bhokta’s swearing-in completed the ceremonial formality of reinstating the coalition govt that had been repeatedly rocked by ED’s probe into a land scam allegedly involving Soren.

By then, 38 of 48 MLAs of the JMM-led Mahagathbandhan were en route to Hyderabad by two charter planes. The MLAs, who would have landed on southern shores the previous night but for bad weather, are likely to stay put in Hyderabad till it’s time for a floor test in the assembly.
‘Adivasi asmita will continue to guide our govt,’ says Champai
Soon after being sworn in as Jharkhand CM on Friday, JMM’s Champai Soren (67) and a minister each from Congress and RJD drove to Sidho-Kanho Park at Birsa Chowk to pay tributes to iconic tribal freedom fighters after whom the place is named. The trio then proceeded to Ranchi’s Project Building for their first cabinet meeting at 1.30pm.
After taking over the reins, Champai told reporters that “Adivasi asmita” (the philosophy of upholding tribal pride) would continue to characterise governance. “Our coalition govt under the leadership of Hemant Soren Ji was people-friendly and rolled out several flagship schemes for the poor, downtrodden and marginalised. My focus will be to continue the momentum of good governance that began in 2019,” he said.

The ex-CM was arrested on Wednesday night, triggering political turmoil and coalition meetings that culminated in Champai being anointed the successor.
The CM-designate knocked on Raj Bhavan’s door thrice in two days to stake claim to form a new govt. The governor’s invitation came late on Thursday. He also acceded to the new dispensation’s request for 10 days to take a floor test.
At Friday’s Durbar Hall ceremony, Champai’s wife Manki Soren, JMM lawmakers Mahua Majhi (Rajya Sabha MP), Sita Soren (Jama MLA) and a few senior coalition leaders were present.
JMM workers stood outside Raj Bhavan, chanting slogans in support of the now-jailed ex-CM Soren.

Champai, a six-time MLA since 1991 and three-time minister, is a resident of Jilinggora village in Rajnagar block of Seraikela-Kharsawan district. He studied till Class X before foraying into politics, coinciding with the start of the movement for a separate state of Jharkhand.
State BJP president ex-CM Babulal Marandi congratulated the new CM and said govt should be tough on corruption. “Champaiji has a long history of andolan (struggle) for rights of tribals and was part of the Jharkhand movement. We hope he will work with wisdom in interest of the state,” said Marandi, MLA from Dhanwar.
BJP’s leader of opposition in the assembly, Amar Bauri, said, “We hope he (Champai) won’t be a rubber-stamp CM.”