In a dramatic turn of events on Thursday night, Champai Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has been invited by Jharkhand Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan to take oath as the new Chief Minister of the state on Friday, 2nd February.Soren has been tasked with proving his majority in a floor test within 10 days, after the Governors late-night decision on Thursday to invite the loyalist of JMM leader Hemant Soren to Raj Bhavan to form a new government.The invitation came just hours after Champai Soren had urged the Governor earlier on Thursday to accept his claim to form a government as soon as possible amid political uncertainty in Jharkhand since Hemant Sorens resignation on Wednesday.Champai Soren to take oath as Jharkhand CM on 2nd February, floor test to take place in next 10 days: Alamgir Alam, CLP leader https://t.co/PniG8gnpPV— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2024Champai Soren and Congress leader Alamgir Alam had handed over a letter to the Governor staking their claim to form the next Jharkhand government.Earlier in the day, Champai Soren had led a delegation of the JMM-led coalition to meet with the Governor regarding government formation, saying in a letter, There has been no government for 18 hours now. There is confusion across the state. As the constitutional head, we expect you will soon take steps for the formation of a popular government.Earlier plans to fly JMM-led coalition MLAs to Telangana from Ranchi had been cancelled as chartered planes hired for the purpose could not take off due to poor visibility. Coalition leaders said shifting the legislators to Hyderabad was intended to prevent any poaching attempts by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Champai Soren was elected leader of the JMM legislature party on Wednesday shortly after Hemant Soren resigned as Chief Minister prior to being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged money laundering case.Hemant Soren stepped down following the EDs actions, and has been remanded in judicial custody until 2nd February. The case against him relates to an enormous racket of illegal transfer of land ownership by the mafia in Jharkhand.The 48-year-old JMM leader has also appealed to the Supreme Court against his arrest, with the matter posted for hearing on Friday.
