On January 31,2024, Hemant resigned as the Chief Minister.His resignation came minutes before he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on charges of corruption. 

Since he was facing family feud, triggered by his sister-in-law Sita Soren who had quit the ruling JMM and joined the BJP, and his wife Kalpana Soren was not a legislature,Soren had no alternative than to get succeeded by his own party JMM’s senior leader Champai Soren. Champai took over the reins as CM.

Indeed, it was some sort of compulsion for Hemant to choose a seven time MLA instead of a family member, as it usually happens in such situations, but, perhaps, it was to last for a short term. 

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As soon as Hemant was released on bail in June by the Jharkhand High Court, after spending nearly five months in jail, Hemant wanted to be back in the saddle. 

However, Champai’s removal turned out to be abrupt, and he found it humiliating. He had wielded power as the chief executive of the state for the first time and expected to be treated more respectfully by Hemant Soren, son of Shibu Soren whose friend and supporter he was.

The JMM, like most parties in India, is controlled by one leader or family, and there is little room for the separate ambitions of individual leaders.

Champai himself has played that game for a long time, but after being the Chief Minister, he thought a tipping point had been reached. Family factors too may have played a role in his decision.His son Babulal Soren aims to scale up in politics. 

While Champai cried of “bitter humiliation” by Hemant, Hemant insinuated that Champai was being lured by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

Now, when Champai has opened his card by expressing in public that he felt “ humiliated” due to the manner in which he was asked to resign as the CM,neither the JMM nor the CM Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana have spoken a word against him. 

Behind the scene, the JMM and the CM Soren were reportedly trying to appease former CM. Even the BJP which is pushing hard for a political return in Jharkhand where elections are due soon,is learnt to have been actively preparing to welcome Champai as a founder of new political party, an ally.  

The BJP’s strategy is to fragment the tribal vote and consolidate the non-tribal vote in its favour while inciting resentment among the tribal communities against Muslims. 

To this end, the BJP is arguing that in its absence, the State has undergone unchecked changes in its demography and made the people suffer from power shortage,potholed roads, rampant corruption and failure of the Soren government to fulfil its 2019 poll promises such as providing jobs to “5 lakh youths and unemployment allowance to them.” 

And, as a counter, the JMM has questioned the BJP’s intent in delaying the 2021 Census, further putting the onus of checking “infiltrators” squarely on the Centre.This was countered by Champai as a “ false narrative.” 

Importantly, Champai has not completely revealed his plans — he might float a party of his own or join the BJP. Or stay put inside the JMM. Either way, Champai’s role in the Assembly polls will determine victory and defeat of the JMM and the BJP.