Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and Grand Alliance’s Chief Ministerial face Hemant Soren on Sunday took oath as Chief Minister of Jharkhand after getting a thumping victory in recently concluded the State Assembly elections.
Before becoming 11th Chief Minister of the State he was Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly. In his first stint as Chief Minister, Soren held the distinction of being the youngest person to become Chief Minister in India.
It’s the second term of the Hemant as a legislator with Jharkhand Assembly, currently representing Barhait and Dumka constituencies under Dumka District in Santhal Pargana region in Jharkhand. He was also elected to Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand between 2009 and 2010. Soren also held the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand between 2009 and 2013. He was first elected as MLA from Dumka Assembly constituency in 2009.
Soren was born on August, 10 in 1975 in Nemra Village in Ramgarh District of the State to Roopi Soren and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shibu Soren. Hemant has two brothers and a sister. He did his schooling from Patna High School and also pursued engineering from BIT Mesra, Ranchi in Mechanical Engineering. However, due to political disturbances and family issues, he was unable to complete his degree.
In his brief stint as a Chief Minister, Soren had brought in progressive policies like 50 per cent reservation for women in the State Government and also played an instrumental part in tackling the Maoist insurgency in Saranda, West Singhbhum through a mix of development initiatives and security measures. He strongly believes in ensuring the economic dividends of the mineral rich state of Jharkhand reach the tribal communities.
Hemant Soren is married to Kalpana and has two sons. He has a younger brother, Basant, and a sister, Anjali Soren. Soren’s elder brother Durga Soren died in 2008. He was JMM MLA from Jama Assembly seat. He is ardent follower of Birsa Munda, the nineteeth century tribal warrior and takes inspiration from his courage and valour.
JMM contested the election under alliance with Indian National Congress (INC) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). In seat sharing pact JMM got 43 seats, INC contested at 31 seats and RJD got seven seats. Out of total 81 seat the alliance won 47 seats in which JMM won 30 seats, INC won 16 seats and RJD won at only one seat.
Compiled by MRITUANJAY KUMAR