JANUARY 31,2024 (ozi news desk):
Sources within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Party have stated that if Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is arrested in an alleged money laundering case, his wife Kalpana Soren could potentially assume the top position. This claim echoes a similar statement made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey earlier this month, which was previously dismissed by the Chief Minister himself. Despite this, Mr. Soren has previously denied the possibility of his wife participating in future elections. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to question Mr. Soren today regarding the money laundering case, and if he is indeed arrested, it has been suggested that Kalpana may be appointed as the new Chief Minister during a meeting of MLAs.
Ms Soren, although not an MLA, would need to win a by-election within six months if she were to be sworn in as the Chief Minister. This is because she would have to become a member of the assembly. However, there is a hurdle in this situation. Due to the assembly’s term ending in less than a year, it is possible that a bypoll may be ruled out.
Kalpana, originally from Mayurbhanj in Odisha, got married to Hemant Soren on February 7, 2006. They have two children named Nikhil and Ansh. Kalpana was born in Ranchi in 1976. Her father is a businessman, while her mother is a homemaker. She pursued her education in engineering and later completed an MBA.
Kalpana Soren is known to be involved in various activities. She reportedly runs a school and is also engaged in organic farming. Additionally, she owns three commercial buildings that have a combined value of nearly ₹ 5 crore. Kalpana is actively involved in programs related to women and children empowerment, and she regularly participates in such initiatives.
In 2022, Kalpana Soren gained attention when former chief minister Raghubar Das accused her husband, Mr Soren, of misusing his position. The allegation was that he had allotted a plot in an industrial area to a company owned by Kalpana. This incident made headlines and raised concerns about potential misuse of power.
