Former chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren would be chairing a meeting of the legislature party of the ruling INDIA bloc on Wednesday, sources said. The meeting assumes importance as this is the first time that Hemant will be meeting all MLAs of INDIA bloc, though he had met several MLAs after his release from jail on bail.  

The last time Hemant Soren had called a meeting of the legislature party of INDIA alliance was on the day he was arrested on January 31.

The MLAs were asked to sign and authorise the then chief minister Hemant Soren to take any decision in eventuality of any action by ED against the latter. Soren then had designated Champai Soren as his successor.

Wednesday's meeting is also important as the development comes within days of Soren coming out of jail on June 28 after being granted bail by the Jharkhand high court.

“We have been called to attend the meeting at 11am on Wednesday to discuss the strategy for upcoming assembly elections,” an MLA said, requesting anonymity.

Another MLA, however, said they can’t rule out some ‘major decisions’ being taken at the INDIA bloc meeting.

Sources said that in the meeting the JMM/Congress leadership will discuss the coming Assembly election and the strategy on how to check BJP. Speculation is also ripe that a section of INDIA bloc leaders will also press for reinstating Hemant Soren as Chief Minister and to fight the coming Assembly election on Hemant leadership.

A JMM leader requesting anonymity said, “There is strong sympathy for Hemant Soren after he was released from jail on bail. After coming from jail he has become stronger, as the High Court has clearly stated that there is no direct evidence against Hemant Soren in the land scam.”

Soren resigned as chief minister on January 31, minutes before he was arrested by the federal agency , and passed on the baton to Champai Soren. As he languished in jail, his party won three Lok Sabha seats this year, two more than its tally in 2019; its partner, the Congress, won two. The BJP-led NDA won nine of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, three less than 2019. All the five seats won by the JMM-Congress combine in the state this time are reserved for scheduled tribes.

Sources said that the INDIA bloc leaders will also discuss the induction of Kalpana Soren the newly elected Gandey MLA and wife of Hemant Soren in Champai Soren’s cabinet.