Facing the charges of corruption, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has flashed himself across the city - in billboards and advertisements in newspapers. 

“Johar- 4 varsh: Yuva Jharkhand ke Badte Kadam( Welcome- 4th Year of Developing Young Jharkhand)”, reads the text of the front page advertisement published by local dailies. This ad was sponsored by the Information and Public Relations Department of the Jharkhand government this morning. 

Clearly, Soren has expressed satisfaction over the functioning of his four-year-long coalition government, claiming his government has delivered to deserving people in need in Jharkhand. 

While the charges of corruption against him are referred to below, the truth is this. Soren had taken the reins under difficult circumstances (on July 13, 2013) and during the past four years of his tenure, he has managed to run the coalition government comprising his party JMM, Congress and the RJD. 

Also, if there was any hick-up among coalition partners during this period, he had managed to overcome it.

Hemant Soren is only the third chief minister of Jharkhand to have completed a fourth anniversary in office and only the second to rule without leaning on independents and smaller groups. 

Today, Soren handed over appointment letters to many unemployed youths including 690 Lab Assistants,137 TGT Teachers, 307 medical personnel such as specialist doctors 164 and 143 medical officers. 

More, CM Soren has laid the foundation for several government projects worth Rs 4,500 crore, besides inaugurating new 350 projects. This includes laying the foundation stone of 100 - Critical Care Unit in Giridih. 

After all, he has achieved what his father Shibu Soren could not in his lifetime. The Soren senior, inarguably the tallest tribal stalwart of Jharkhand politics and a veteran of the Jharkhand Movement, became the CM thrice.  

However, Guruji, as Shibu Soren is known as, could not complete a single term in office. His longest stint as CM was 153 days while his shortest tenure finished in just 10 days when he had to resign in March 2005. 

Marking the anniversary ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections later next year, Soren addressed a public meeting at Morahabadi maidan in Ranchi and apprised the people of his “ achievements.” 

As he had completed two years in service on December 29, 2021, the opposition BJP led by ex-CM Raghubar Das had alleged that CM Soren had misused his office to allot 11 acres of land to ‘Sohrai Live Private Limited’ belonging to his wife Kalpana Soren for setting up a meat processing unit at Behra Industrial Area in Ranchi. 

Seeking an explanation from Soren in this regard, Das had said that if it is true, then it is a crime under the Prevention of Corruption Act and needs to be probed by the investigating agency.

Ex-CM Das who is now West Bengal Governor, also had alleged that CM Soren’s MLA representative Pankaj Mishra, who is now in jail, was also allotted mining leases in Sahibganj.

Das had alleged that the government which came into power in the name of Abua Dishum - Abua Raj (My Country, My Rule), is working only for one family, its relatives and workers.

Subsequently, the ED had walked the extra mile to investigate and arrest several persons including two IAS officers - Puja Singhal and Chhavi Ranjan who were denied bail and were in jail. 

The ED had issued six separate summons to quiz him in mining and land scams linked with money laundering cases. But the CM Soren did not appear five times.  

Against this backdrop, the ruling BJP led by Babulal Marandi has criticised Soren and gone on record saying, “ Throughout the country, corruption prevalent in Jharkhand is echoing.”