The Governor of Jharkhand on Saturday distributed departments among the Council of Ministers in the State on the suggestions of the Chief Minister, according to which Parliamentary Affairs department has been allotted to Minister and CLP leader Alamgir Alam, while the charge of all other departments of the Government has been entrusted to Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
A notification in this regard was issued by the Cabinet Secretariat and Vigilance department on Saturday evening. Notably, two other Ministers — JPCC president Rameshwar Oraon and RJD leader Satyanand Bhokta have not been allotted any department.
Sources said the allocation of department has been done on temporary basis till the full fledged Cabinet takes shape in the State. At present the Chief Minister has three Cabinet colleagues, while the maximum no of State Cabinet ministers in Jharkhand is 12 including the Chief Minister. Sources said that another eight Cabinet ministers will be inducted after January 14, the end of inauspicious ‘Kharmas’ period.
Notably, Chief Minister Hemant Soren will also leave one of the two constituencies he has won elections from. Sources said that the CM, who has won elections from both Barhait and Dunka constituencies, is likely to leave the Barhait constituency and retain the Dumka seat, which is considered the centre of JMM’s bastion in Santhal Pargana.
Soren, on Saturday, reached Dumka on a two-day visit where he paid tributes to freedom fighters Sido Kanhu, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Swami Vivekananda and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar by garlanding the great personalities’ statues.
On the CM’s arrival at Dumka a large number of people reached the airstrip and greeted him with flowers and books. Soren later paid tributes to the visionary leaders and freedom fighters on way to Raj Bhwan, where he met common masses and interacted with them. While addressing people the CM said that he was delighted to welcome them in the sub capital Dumka today. “There is new hope and optimism in you. You all have patience. We will work in accordance with your expectations. The purpose with which you have carried me forward will be fulfilled. This is my responsibility,” he said.
Soren said that in a couple of days the Government will start functioning fully. “When I come next time, I will bring happiness. Our aim is to move forward with people of all religions. The executive will also work with this objective. Today, I have come to pay respect to my ‘Karmbhoomi’. The whole journey has to be done with complete preparation,” said he.
The CM said the demise of Purohit Bhai at Baba Basukinath Dham a few days ago is sad. “One cannot resurrect a dead person, but one can help his dependents. Today, a job given to the late priest’s brother Amit Ranjan and Rs 2 lakh will be helpful to his life to some extent. May God bless the soul of the late Panda Ji,” he said.
The CM will take part in a meeting with eminent personalities and mediapersons in Dumka on Sunday and will also partake in a Janta Darbar organised at the second Capital of the State.