JMM legislature party leader Hemant Soren, who will take oath as Jharkhand’s ninth Chief Minister on Saturday, has said refurbishing the State’s image will top his agenda. In an e-mailed interview with The Pioneer, Hemant said he would prove all past speculation and doubt wrong.
Jharkhand has been hit by political instability and various scams since it was carved out in 2000. Hemant was responding to a query as how he would ensure that the Government, supported by a number of independent and smaller parties’ MlAs, does not face charges of corruption. His predecessor Arjun Munda too had chanted this slogan when he came to power in 2010.
Soren Junior, who will turn 38 next month, said he was not ignoring his father Shibu Soren to take up the Chief Minister’s job. “A towering personality like Guruji could not be confined to any post. He is guardian of not only JMM but the whole State, which will prosper with his blessings and guidance,” Hemant maintained.
He was asked about Soren’s role when the post of the State Coordination Committee goes to the Congress.
Soren had been committee chairman during the Madhu Koda regime. He also held the post when the BJP ran Government with the JMM’s support.
Parties have planned to observe Hemant’s coronation in separate ways. The JMM will celebrate ‘Adhikar Diwas,’ or Entitlement Day while the BJP deemed it ‘Dhikkar Diwas’ or Condemnation Day. Another Opposition party, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik, has announced to observe the day as ‘Black Day’.
Hemant, who struggled for about six months after withdrawing support from the Munda Government in January, said the Congress, RJD and independents have come together to respect the people’s mandate and in the interest of State. “We share a common worry and will prosper together,” he maintained.
Hemant did not buy the common perception that the electoral pact with the Congress for sharing the lok Sabha seats in 10:4 ratio was a sellout. “Every party knows its strength and weakness. The pact between parties having common ideology helps each other. Our past experiences can very well say so,” he explained.
The CM-in-waiting refused to comment on his opponents’ barb that the Government has been formed by the Congress to contest the lok Sabha elections. “I do not believe in making statements (Main bayanbazi mein wishwas nahi rakhta hoon),” he retorted.
He also sounded confident of proving his majority on the floor of the House.
Talking about his priorities, Soren Junior said he would strive to put a common minimum programme in place as early as possible, with suggestions and consensus of all parties and individual MlAs supporting the Government. “Implementing the CMP will be our first priority,” he added.
Hemant ducked a query on formulating the domicile policy, saying the Government will run under a CMP, which does not comprise agenda of a particular party. “Rather, the CMP is based on thoughts of parties and MlAs supporting the Government,” he signed off.