Breaking: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren reaches Ranchi, holds meeting with MLAs

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Ranchi, January 30: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who has been untraceable for the ED for the last 45 hours, reached Ranchi today.

Currently, he is holding a meeting with the JMM and the Congress MLAs. His wife Kalpana Soren is also present in the meeting.

Earlier in the day today, Governor CP Radhakrishnan summoned Chief Secretary L Khiangte, Home Secretary Avinash Kumar, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh and directed them to ensure peace in the State.

“The governor’s main concern was the law and order situation. He did not discuss with us the issue involving the chief minister,” pointed out an official requesting anonymity.

The official added the Ranchi DC is taking action to maintain law and order in the state capital.

The Governor had summoned them after the ED’s ‘manhunt’ for Chief Minister Hemant Soren had been unsuccessful during the last 45 hours.

The JMM workers hit the streets protesting ED action against the chief minister.

ED seizes two cars, Rs 36 lakh

Earlier in the day, ED seized two cars including a BMW from his residence in New Delhi and also recovered Rs 36 lakh during raids.

The BJP, on the other hand, launched an offensive against the chief minister, saying Soren’s action has tarnished the image of Jharkhand.

BJP chief Babulal Marandi took a dig at Hemant Soren and tweeted a missing poster which also contained a cash reward of Rs 11,000 to those who give information about the chief minister’s whereabouts.

Godda MP Nishikant Dubey said that Hemant Soren’s sister-in-law Sita Soren and brother Basant Soren do not want his wife Kalpana Soren to succeed him. “They are in regular contact with him,” Dubey asserted,

Congress stand

The Congress, an alliance partner in the Soren government,  is keeping its fingers crossed. “The issue of change of guard is yet to be discussed.  But we think a senior JMM leader, not Kalpana Soren, will succeed Hemant Soren when any such situation arises,” said a senior Congress leader requesting anonymity.