In a significant development, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren declared on Monday that he would step away from politics if any of the allegations leveled against him were proven in court. Soren’s statement came as he faced a high-stakes political battle, having been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money-laundering probe. The arrest, which took place on the night of January 31, marked a contentious move as it was the first time a sitting Chief Minister was taken into custody.
Addressing the Jharkhand Assembly just ahead of a crucial floor test, Hemant Soren accused the Governor CP Radhakrishnan in his arrest. He stated, “I believe that Raj Bhavan was also involved in this incident.”
It is pertinent to note that the former Jharkhand Chief Minister has taken a permission from a special PMLA court in Ranchi to be present in the state Assembly for the floor test today.
In his address to the state assembly today, Hemant Soren also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of harboring a hidden agenda. He claimed that the BJP did not want a tribal Chief Minister to complete a full five-year term in office in Jharkhand. “Today I have been arrested on charges of an 8.5-acre land scam. If they have the courage, then show the documents of the land registered in my name. If it is proven, I will quit politics,” he challenged his detractors.
Further, in his address Chief Minister Champai Soren too joined in the chorus of support for Hemant Soren, stating that the BJP was attempting to destabilize a democratically elected government. He emphasized that the people of Jharkhand had benefitted from Hemant Soren’s governance and the development initiatives undertaken during his tenure.
Earlier, in a tactical move, amid fears that the BJP may try to poach them ahead of the floor test, JMM sequestered its legislators into a resort located in Congress-ruled Telangana. The legislators have returned to Ranchi on Sunday evening, significantly to participate in the crucial floor test.
