Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday slammed the Centre for "neglecting" the state in the Union budget, and alleged that the BJP leaders are "silent" over the dues from the Centre. He also claimed that the Centre owes Rs 1.36 lakh crore to the state and demanded that its dues be paid by the Union government. "Who is guilty of discrimination with the state? The Centre owes Rs 1.36 lakh crore to the state, but every BJP leader is silent on this issue. Give a special package to your crutches - pay us our dues," Soren said on X. He was apparently referring to financial measures, announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget proposals on Tuesday, for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, ruled by key NDA allies -- Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP -- which are providing critical support to the BJP-led government at the Centre. Announcing a host of developmental projects, Sitharaman proposed a total outlay of over Rs 60,000 crore for various ...
Concerned over rain deficit in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday directed officials to prepare a report on its impact on agriculture so that it could be placed before the Centre for seeking assistance. Chairing a high-level meeting of senior officials to review the impact of less-than-normal rainfall during the monsoon, he asked officials to start preparations on time to provide relief to the farmers. "If the situation of less rainfall continues for the next few days, then prepare a complete strategy to deal with it," he said, according to an official statement. He told the officials to speed up the work of irrigation projects, and along with it, prepare for alternative agriculture. He also directed them to remain alert and monitor the rainfall and sowing of crops in all the districts. "The chief minister said that this time too, a weak monsoon situation is being seen so far. This is having a direct impact on the sowing of paddy and other crops. Due to this, a large
The JMM-led government in Jharkhand headed by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday won the vote of confidence in the assembly amid a walkout by opposition members. A total of 45 MLAs, including nominated member Josheph P Galastaun, voted in favour of the confidence motion. BJP and AJSU legislators walked out of the House as headcount for voting started. The BJP-led opposition has 24 legislators of the saffron party and three of the AJSU Party. Earlier, BJP legislators trooped into the well seeking Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto's permission to allow MLA Bhanu Pratap Sahi to speak, which was turned down by the Speaker. Seventy-five MLAs were present in the assembly during the voting. Independent legislator Saryu Roy abstained from voting. The ruling alliance comprises the JMM, Congress and the RJD while it is supported from outside by the lone CPI (ML) Liberation legislator. After the Lok Sabha elections, the strength of the JMM-led alliance has been reduced to 45 MLAs in the 81-mem
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren successfully won the trust vote during an Assembly session on Monday
On the eve of the crucial floor test of the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government on Monday, both the ruling alliance and the opposition held separate meetings to meticulously craft strategies for the special assembly session. While the JMM, Congress, and RJD legislators exuded confidence in securing a successful outcome in the trust vote, opposition BJP asserted that it wouldn't be easy for the ruling alliance. Following the trust vote, the Soren cabinet is set to be expanded, an MLA said. "Floor test and cabinet expansion were discussed during the meeting. After the trust vote, the cabinet will be expanded," Poreyahat MLA Pradeep Yadav told reporters on Sunday. Yadav, who joined Congress after winning the 2019 assembly polls on a JVM-P ticket, claimed they have sufficient numbers in the House to win the trust vote. JMM legislator Stephen Marandi said the party has instructed all alliance MLAs to be present in the House and participate in the floor test. On the other hand, the B
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Earlier today, Champai Soren resigned as Jharkhand Chief Minister, paving the way for Hemant Soren's return
Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Wednesday resigned from his post, following which JMM leader Hemant Soren called on Governor CP Radhakrishnan and staked claim to form the government. Earlier in the day, leaders and MLAs of the ruling coalition at a meeting at Champai Soren's residence here unanimously decided to elect Hemant Soren as the JMM legislature party leader. "I have resigned as per the decision of the JMM-led alliance. Our alliance is strong," Champai Soren said after coming out of Raj Bhavan. "All know what had happened with Hemant Soren Ji... I was given the responsibility by the coalition partners. Now, the alliance has decided in favour of Hemant Soren Ji," he said. Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after nearly five months, after the high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as the CM shortly before his arrest on January 31.
JMM executive president Hemant Soren is set to return as chief minister of Jharkhand for the third time following consensus among legislators of the party-led alliance in the state, party sources said on Wednesday. Sources said Champai Soren, who had taken oath as the 12th chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2 after Hemant Soren's arrest, may resign from the post soon. Champai Soren has sought an appointment with Governor CP Radhakrishnan and the CM will call on him at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, Raj Bhavan sources said Leaders and MLAs of the alliance during a meeting at Champai Soren's residence here unanimously decided to elect Hemant Soren as the JMM legislature party leader, they said. "A decision was taken in the meeting to make Hemant Soren as the Chief Minister of the state again," a party source told PTI. If sworn in, Hemant Soren will be the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000. Congress's Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mi
A crucial meeting of INDIA bloc legislators began here on Wednesday, amid speculations of a change of guard in the state, MLAs of the alliance said. The meeting has been convened by former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who is also the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Soren was released from jail on June 28 after nearly five months, as the high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. "A change of guard in the state is possible... This meeting is crucial. All the legislators of the ruling alliance assembled here at 11 am," a party source told PTI. The speculations were fuelled by the sudden cancellation of all important programmes of Chief Minister Champai Soren, including distribution of appointment letters to 1,500 selected teachers on Wednesday. On Tuesday, too, all public programmes of Champai Soren, who had taken oath as the 12th CM of Jharkhand on February 2 after Hemant Soren's arrest, stood ...
Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren is scheduled to preside over a crucial meeting of INDIA bloc legislators on Wednesday, amid speculations of a change of guard in the state, MLAs of the alliance said. Soren, the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was released from jail on June 28 after nearly five months, as the high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. "A change of guard in the state is possible... This meeting is crucial. All the legislators of the ruling alliance will assemble here at 11 am," a party source told PTI. The speculations were fuelled by the sudden cancellation of all important programmes of Chief Minister Champai Soren, including distribution of appointment letters to 1,500 selected teachers on Wednesday. On Tuesday, too, all public programmes of Champai Soren, who had taken oath as the 12th CM of Jharkhand on February 2, 2024 after Hemant Soren's arrest, stood cancelled. "We were
The INDIA bloc govt in Jharkhand is hurriedly unveiling schemes ahead of the Assembly polls, even as the BJP reaches out to tribals
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday declared a rebellion against feudal forces, asserting that the opposition INDIA bloc will drive out the BJP from across the country. Soren, addressing a rally here on the occasion of 'Hul Diwas', also claimed that the saffron party has turned jittery after his release from jail and its leaders are conspiring against him again. "I have stepped out of my home for the first time post my release to address you on Hul Diwas'. It is a day of inspiration for all of us. Like the Santhal uprising against the British, we declare 'Hul rebellion' to drive out feudal forces not only from Jharkhand but across the country," he said. The day marks the 1855 Santhal rebellion against the British. I was implicated in false cases... The Centre unleashes its probe agencies to harass those who raise their voice against it. It is only two days that I am out of jail, but the BJP is jittery. Top party leaders are frequenting Jharkhand and conspiring ..
Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Saturday slammed the BJP for allegedly hatching a conspiracy against him and claimed that the saffron party will be wiped out from the state after the upcoming assembly elections. Addressing JMM workers at his residence, Soren said there would be a "revolt against those who plotted the conspiracy" to confine him in jail and "people of Jharkhand would not spare the BJP". "Time has come to put the last nail in BJP's coffin. In coming days, the BJP will be wiped out from Jharkhand," the JMM executive president said. Soren was released on Friday from the Birsa Munda Jail after the state high court granted bail to him in a money laundering case, observing that he was prima facie not guilty, and there was no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence on bail. The JMM leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with its investigation into the money laundering case linked to the illegal possessi
The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in January over a land scam case in Ranchi
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is in jail, is facing the same kind of oppression that led to the custodial death of Jesuit priest Stan Swamy who dedicated his life working for tribal rights, according to social media post by the JMM leader. The latest Lok Sabha elections mark the beginning of Jharkhand's revenge for the custodial death of Swamy who had been fighting for tribal rights, said the Facebook post from Soren's account which is being managed by his wife Kalpana Soren. Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. "Just as Father Stan, who raised his voice for the most vulnerable section, was silenced by institutional neglect and injustice, today the same kind of oppression is being done to Hemant Soren. Today there is a need for every Jharkhandi to stand strongly in support of Hemant Soren. Otherwise, no one can stop turning Jharkhand into Manipur," the social media post said. In Manip
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The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file a reply on the bail application moved by former chief minister Hemant Soren. Soren, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, filed the petition before the high court on Monday and requested an early hearing of the matter. Appearing on behalf of Soren before a bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, senior advocate Kapil Sibal pleaded that the JMM leader was a victim of political conspiracy. The court directed the ED to file a response in the matter and set June 10 as the next date of the hearing. In his petition, Soren pleaded before the court that his name does not figure in any of the documents about 8.5 acres of land in the Bargain circle and no offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act is made out against him. He also claimed that the ED was relying only on statements of some people who ha
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for suppressing facts regarding filing of regular bail plea in trial court in a money laundering case, prompting the JMM leader to withdraw his petition challenging arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. A vacation bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma allowed Soren's counsel Kapil Sibal to withdraw his plea after warning that if the court goes into the details of the case it will be damaging for the former chief minister. Your conduct tells a lot. We expected your client to come up with candour but you suppressed material facts, the bench told Sibal Your conduct is not without blemish, the bench told Sibal, after he tried to defend Soren saying he is in custody and does not have any knowledge about the petitions being filed in courts. He is not a layman, the bench observed and said it will dismiss his plea against arrest without going into the merit of the case. Sibal then ..