Hemant Soren returns as Jharkhand CM after 5 months in jail

Soren was granted bail by a High Court stating that said records do not indicate his "direct involvement" in the alleged scam.

After taking the oath, Soren said: "From 2019 the present 'mahagathbandan' government has done all the work as per interests of people here. During political ups and downs, Champai Soren took forward those initiatives... because I was in jail. (Now)... because of the court's order, I could come out..."

The Chief Minister's wife, Kalpana Soren, once seen as a possible candidate for her husband's job, said he would "continue to work for (the) people... like he has always", but had a caution message for the party ahead of a state election just months away. "... we have less time now".

Hemant Soren was sworn in at 5 pm in Raj Bhavan in the presence of his father, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha patriarch, and two-time former Chief Minister, Shibu Soren.

Cabinet ministers will be sworn in on Sunday.

Before he took oath today he posted a video message on X, in which he slammed "arrogant people intoxicated with power (a reference to the BJP) who tried to silence me", and said, "Today, the public opinion of the people of Jharkhand will rise again. Jai Jharkhand, Jai Hind."

Shortly before he was sworn in, the son had met the father. "Met respected baba and took his blessings to deal with upcoming challenges," he said.

Earlier, reports claimed that Champai Soren, who assumed the post after Hemant quit ahead of his arrest, was not happy with the new situation.

Champai Soren is "upset" and reportedly felt "insulted" to quit for Hemant Soren.

If reports are to be believed, the veteran leader might be given the post of JMM executive president.

After handing over his resignation to Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday evening, Champai Soren said in Hindi, "When the leadership had changed, I was given responsibility. You know the sequence of events.

"After Hemant Soren came back, we (the coalition) picked him as our leader and I resigned. I am following the decision taken by the coalition."

Jharkhand is ruled by a coalition of the JMM, Congress, RJD and the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation.