Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's Wife Kalpana Set To Become Minister As She Gets Elected As MLA In By-Poll

The Jharkhand government seems to be poised for a cabinet expansion following Kalpana Soren's recent oath-taking as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).

This comes after her victory in the Gandey Assembly by-poll as per a report by The New Indian Express.

Kalpana Soren, the wife of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, may secure a ministerial position in the Champai-led government, filling the 12th ministerial berth that has been lying vacant for several years.

After her swearing-in, Kalpana addressed the assembly, expressing her dedication to her election campaign responsibilities and commitment to future tasks.

"There is little time left for assembly elections, but we will use all our potential to make use of the time to do well in the assembly polls," she stated.

This follows the resignation of Alamgir Alam, who is currently jailed on money laundering charges linked to a tender scam. His resignation from the ministerial post has likely set the stage for the cabinet expansion.

As Alam was a Congress minister, Jamtara MLA Irfan Ansari or Mahgama MLA Dipika Pandey Singh are seen as potential replacements. An agreement between the ruling alliance partners allocates four ministerial berths to Congress, one to RJD, and seven to JMM.

Meanwhile, some speculations suggest that Kalpana Soren might eventually replace Champai Soren as Chief Minister, as both JMM and Congress have presented her as an alternative to Hemant Soren.

Kalpana Soren, who showcased her leadership during the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Mumbai, coining the slogan "India Jhukega Nahin – India Rukega Nahi" (India will not bow down – India will not stop), has been influential in party decisions. Her effective leadership in the Lok Sabha elections suggests she will play a significant role in the upcoming assembly elections.