Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president and son of JMM patriarch Hemant Soren, who took oath as State Chief Minister for the second time at a grand function being attended by a galaxy of Opposition leaders and regional satraps, appeared to be a show of unity that could be harbinger of broad based anti-BJP alliance amid uproar over the new citizenship law.
Hemant’s swearing in ceremony at historic Morhabadi ground was second such event in past one year when galaxy of Opposition leaders had come together at swearing in function of any Chief Minister. The last time such presence and coming together of large number of leaders mainly anti-BJP forces was during the swearing-in ceremony of JD(S) leader HD Kumarswamy as Chief Minister as Karnataka in Bangalore on May last year.
The important Opposition camp leaders who were present included Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh counterparts Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, DMK leader MK Stalin, his sister Kanimozhi, and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav.
Attired in white kurta-pyjama ensemble and a Nehru jacket, the 44-year-old tribal leader Soren was sworn in as the 11th chief minister of the state by Governor Droupadi Murmu.
The Opposition camp leader were much happy to witness the grand function as they talked with each discussing country’s political seen. The opposition camp leaders smiled broadly and shook hands at the bonhomie-filled event that heralded the advent of a JMM-Congress-RJD Government, after the Opposition coalition snatched yet another state from the BJP, barely months after its remarkable performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
Prominent Opposition leaders, who could not attend today’s function included Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati and others.
Sources said with today’s show of strength the Opposition wants to give message that they can easily counter Modi and Amit Shah if the stand united. A senior state Congress leader requesting anonymity said, “Today’s show of strength is just beginning as we have to stand united ahead of next year Bihar Assembly election and 2021 West Bengal Assembly election.” The leader further said, “RJD which has only one MLA and that too was included in cabinet keeping Bihar election in mind as in Bihar RJD is a dominant force.” In Bihar RJD has an alliance with Congress, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAMS, Upendra Kushwaha RLSP.
The other important message which Opposition gave from today’s function was Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharing stage with Left leaders Sitaram Yechury, D Raja and others. The coming together of Mamata Banerjee and Left leaders also assume importance as in July this year after Lok Sabha election results, Mamata had given a call for unity among Congress, CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress. However, veteran Communist leader S Sudhakar Reddy had termed Mamata formula as "meaningless".