The Enforcement Directorate will question Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday in Ranchi in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. There are chances that he may be arrested by the ED sleuths. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader's wife Kalpana Soren might take over the top post if her husband is arrested by the central agency, according to reports.
Speculation regarding Kalpana Soren becoming the next Jharkhand Chief Minister was rife amid political drama over her husband's apparent ‘disappearance’ from Delhi two days ago.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had earlier claimed that Hemant Soren is planning to make his wife the next Chief Minister in case he gets arrested. However, the JMM leader dismissed the allegations and even ruled out the possibility of Kalpana Soren contesting elections in the future.
Dubey claimed on X that around 35 MLAs took part in the JMM meeting on Tuesday. The proposal to make Kalpana Soren the next Jharkhand CM was floated in the meeting.
झारखंड में कल्पना सोरेन जी के नाम पर सहमति विधायक दल की बैठक में नहीं बन पाई । सीता सोरेन जी व बसंत सोरेन जी विरोध में उतरे । कुल 35 विधायक ही बैठक में पहुँचे । सादे काग़ज़ पर विधायकों ने हस्ताक्षर किया । कल मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत जी का राज्यपाल से मिलने का कोई कार्यक्रम नहीं है ।…
— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) January 30, 2024
Who is Kalpana Soren?
– Born in 1976, Kalpana Soren hails from a non-political background and is originally from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district.
– She got married to Hemant Soren on February 7, 2006. The couple has two children — Nikhil and Ansh.
– She holds degrees in the field of engineering and an MBA.
– Kalpana's father is a businessman, while her mother is a homemaker.
– She has been involved in business and charity works.
Since she is not an MLA, Kalpana, – if sworn in as the next Chief Minister — will have to become a Member of the Assembly by winning a by-election within six months. However, there are fewer chances of a by-election as the term of the Assembly will end in less than a year.
Kalpana Soren took part in the MLAs meetings in Ranchi on Tuesday.
Nishikant Dubey has claimed that Hemant Soren's brother Basant Soren and sister-in-law Sita Soren have disapproved of the proposal of Kalpana becoming the next Chief Minister. However, Basant Soren has denied any rift within the Soren family and said the JMM is united.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
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