Hemant Soren takes oath as Jharkhand CM

New Delhi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha executive president Hemant Soren on Thursday took oath as the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand. Soren had resigned after being arrested by ED in a money laundering case on January 31. On Wednesday, Hemant Soren was elected leader of the JMM legislative party. He met governor CP Radhakrishnan, along with former CM Champai Soren, and staked a claim to form the next government. Champai had resigned on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Soren was the only MLA to take oath. Sources told ET that a new Cabinet would be decided after discussion with allies - Congress and RJD - in the state.

"From 2019, the present 'Mahagathbandan' government has done all the work as per the interests of the people here. During the political ups and downs, Champai Soren took forward those initiatives, because I was in jail. Because of the court order, I could come out," Hemant said in a video message after taking oath.

"We go by the Constitution. We all have to address the problems of poor people. That's what I am expecting from the new government," governor Radhakrishnan said after administering oath to Soren.

After Lok Sabha polls, the strength of the JMM-led alliance has been reduced to 45 MLAs - JMM (27), Congress (17) and RJD (1). Two JMM MLAs are now parliamentarians.