Soren three time CM, but never MLA

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren who today became the chief minister of Jharkhand for the third time, has never been elected to the state Assembly.

He became the chief minister of the mineral rich state for the first time on March 2, 2005 after the assembly elections threw up a hung House.

Soren, who was a member of the Lok Sabha then, did not get a chance to contest an assembly seat as he had to quit nine days later after he failed to prove his majority in the assembly.

Soren became chief minister for the second time on August 27, 2008 when he replaced Independent MLA Madhu Koda.

At that time also Soren was a Lok Sabha member and as per constitutional requirement he had to become a MLA within six months.

Soren contested the Tamar assembly bypoll on January 3 this year, but was defeated by Independent candidate Gopal Krishna Patar popularly called Raja Patar by over 10,000 votes.

Soren resigned from the chief minister's post on January 12 and as no party came forward to form the government in Jharkhand after his resignation, President's rule was imposed in the state.

Soren still is not a member of the Jharkhand Assembly and has to become a legislator within six months.

"We have not yet decided a seat for Guruji (Soren), but in all likelihood he will contest from the Santhal Pargana region (which has 18 seats)," JMM spokesman Ramesh Hansda told PTI.