On Wednesday, speculations were widespread that Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren might become the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand amid huge drama over Hemant Soren’s disappearance for more than 30 hours when ED searched his official house in Delhi on Monday. However, the plan to make his wife CM in case he gets arrested by the ED, said the BJP leader Nishikant Dubey.
Reasons behind Kalpana Soren to become CM
According to the sources, Kalpana Soren’s name has been rumoured as the successor to her husband Hemant Soren as the chief minister of Jharkhand, if he gets arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in alleged connection with the money laundering case.
Moreover, Kalpana Soren has a political lineage as she is the daughter-in-law of the JMM party’s founder Shibu Soren, which gives her a significant place in the party. She is also known for her social work and activism which reflects her positive image, which might be beneficial for the party. However, she is not an MLA, so there’s a chance of getting disqualified from becoming the CM of the state.
What is JMM’s stand?
The speculation comes after the arrest of Lalu Yadav by the central agency, after which he made his wife Rabri Devi the leader of the party. Further, expecting a similar situation, the party might want to take such action to keep the political situation fluid in the state.
However, there is no official statement exists from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) for naming the next CM. But the opposition BJP alleges it is the party’s backup plan and criticizes the JMM party for making narratives and hiding the truth.
BJP criticizing the JMM
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nishikant Dubey has been one of the most vocal critics of the possibility of Kalpana Soren becoming the CM. He accused the JMM party of trying to make Jharkhand a ‘family territory’ and has called the move ‘immoral and unconstitutional’. He also slammed Soren for using his wife as a proxy to avoid disqualification from the CM position.
Moreover, other BJP leaders have also echoed Dubey’s sentiments. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia called the move a ‘blatant attempt to bypass’ and accused the party of being ‘desperate to cling to take power’. Also, BJP leader Sushil K Modi slammed the move as an ‘insult to democracy’ and called on the Governor of Jharkhand to interfere in the matter.
About Kalpana Soren
Kalpana Soren was born in 1976 in Ranchi, her family belong to Baripada in Odisha where they are still staying. She married Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in 2006. Kalpana’s father is a business person and her mother holds domestic duties. She is involved in business and social work. However, she is not actively involved in politics and doesn’t have any experience. So, her elevation to the CM post remains purely speculative at this point.
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