Hemant Soren’s oath as Jharkhand Chief Minister on November 26: Sources

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren is set to take the oath as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the fourth time on November 26, according to sources.
Soren is scheduled to meet Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar at 4 p.m. today, November 24, and will formally stake claim to form the government, sources said.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be a grand affair, with key leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and others slated to attend.
Soren’s return to power was guaranteed by the JMM-led coalition’s triumph in the Jharkhand assembly elections. The alliance, which includes the JMM, Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the CPI-ML, won a combined 56 seats in the 81-member assembly.
The JMM secured 34 seats, the Congress 16, the RJD 4, and the CPI-ML 2, paving the way for a second straight term in power for the INDIA bloc alliance.
In contrast, the BJP faced a crushing defeat, securing only 21 seats—one of its worst performances since Jharkhand’s formation in 2000.
After a turbulent year, Soren scripted a stunning turnaround for his party and ensured his own political future. He won the Barhait assembly constituency, defeating BJP rival Gamliyel Hembrom by a handsome margin of 39,791 votes.
“We have passed the exam of democracy in Jharkhand,” he said of the JMM-led coalition’s poll performance at a press conference on Saturday.
Earlier in 2024, Hemant Soren resigned as chief minister and was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate over allegations of corruption linked to mining leases. After spending a few months in prison, he was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court.
Following his release, he returned as chief minister and quickly rallied the JMM-Congress coalition to not only buck anti-incumbency but also secure a powerful mandate in the assembly elections.
The JMM-led ruling alliance not only retained its tribal strongholds but also expanded its reach, dealing a severe blow to the BJP’s hopes of making inroads into the state.
Soren’s leadership and focus on tribal welfare, combined with strategic partnerships, were key to his rainbow alliance’s success. The defeat of the BJP in 27 of the 28 tribal-reserved seats indicated voters’ rejection of their polarising campaign in favour of the JMM coalition’s narrative of the underdog taking on the powers that be.