Chief Minister Hemant Soren today rejected the speculations that his wife Kalpana Soren would be fighting a bye-election from Gandey Assembly constituency in order to remain CM of the State after his resignation. Talking to news agency PTI the CM termed it as a "complete imagination" of the BJP.

“There is not an iota of truth in the speculations,” he told the agency adding, "Possibility of my wife contesting in near future is a complete imagination of the BJP... Speculations about handing over reins to her is a fabric woven by the BJP to build a false narrative."

Notably, speculations are rife in the State after media reports that CM’s wife Kalpana Soren would contest bypolls in order to become CM after the Enforcement Directorate sent seventh summons to Soren asking him for a place and time to record his statement. The speculations even intensified with the resignation of JMM's Gandey MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad on January 01, 2024.

As soon as Ahmed resigned BJP MP Nishikant Dibey posted on X that he has been made a scapegoat in order to make Kalpana Soren the new CM. He said that Ahmad was forced to make way for Kalpana Soren so that she could contest from the Gandey seat if the ED takes an extreme step and it becomes difficult for Soren to hold the post of Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition has called a legislative body meeting on Wednesday to chart out plans for future eventualities. Newly appointed State Congress in charge Gulam Ahmed Mir is also expected to attend the meeting.

Amid the political hustle, Governor CP Radhakrishnan today said that the Raj Bhawan is keeping an eye on the law and order of the State, which is deteriorating. “Raj Bhawan is keeping an eye on only one thing in the State, which is the law and order situation. But, unfortunately it is deteriorating, which is painful,” he told media persons in Ranchi on Tuesday.

Commenting on the recent political developments, he said, “Nothing concrete has come up to me. I was reputedly telling you one thing. Those who have done something wrong, they have to face the consequences.”