State Bureau, Ranchi: Hemant Soren Oath Ceremony
Hemant Soren, the working president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), took the oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the fourth time on Thursday at Morhabadi Ground. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy. As Soren ascended the stage amidst a crowd-packed ground, his supporters enthusiastically raised slogans. Dressed in a kurta-pajama and a bandi (vest), Hemant Soren greeted the crowd with a wave.
He then approached his father, former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, to seek his blessings. Hemant Soren took the oath alone. Following the ceremony, Governor Gangwar and other dignitaries congratulated and extended their best wishes to the newly sworn-in Chief Minister.
After the ceremony, Soren, accompanied by his wife Kalpana Soren, visited Sido-Kanhu Park to garland the statues of tribal heroes and later paid tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda at Birsa Chowk.
Cabinet Expansion to Follow Assembly Majority
After securing a majority in the Assembly, Hemant Soren plans to expand his cabinet. A special Assembly session is expected to be convened soon. The oath-taking ceremony witnessed massive participation from across the state, with special traffic arrangements made for the event.
The ground was filled to capacity two hours before the ceremony began, with additional crowds gathered outside. Supporters eagerly waited for a glimpse of their beloved leader. However, managing the large turnout proved challenging for the security personnel, and traffic jams were reported in the surrounding areas after the event.
INDIA Bloc Strength on Display
The ceremony stood out for showcasing the unity and strength of the opposition INDIA bloc. Prominent leaders from various anti-BJP parties across the country attended the event, representing states from both the north and the south.
Notable Leaders in Attendance
Among those present were:
- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge
- Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi
- West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
- Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann
- Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
- Telangana Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka
- Former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav
Other attendees included Delhi’s former CM Arvind Kejriwal, Bihar’s Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Purnea MP Pappu Yadav, and several MPs and MLAs. After the ceremony, Hemant Soren personally greeted the attendees.
An Emotional Message Before the Oath
Before taking the oath, Hemant Soren issued an emotional message to the people of Jharkhand. On social media, he wrote:
“Johar, friends. Today is a historic day—a day that reinforces our collective struggle, spirit of love and brotherhood, and commitment to justice. Jharkhand’s sacred land has always been a cradle of resistance and revolution. Inspired by the legacy of Bhagwan Birsa, Sido-Kanhu, Amar Shaheed Telanga Khadia, Phulo-Jhano, Poto Ho, Sheikh Bhikhari, and countless other heroes, JMM continues to move forward daily.”
He emphasized that the day was not just about political victory but about reaffirming the fight for social justice and unity in the face of growing challenges to democracy.
“Our Unity is Our Strength”
Soren stated that unity is Jharkhand’s greatest weapon.
“We cannot be divided, nor silenced. When they push us back, we move forward. When they try to suppress us, our voices of revolution grow louder. We are Jharkhandis, and Jharkhandis do not bow down.”
He called on people to embrace the legacy of their ancestors and pledge to take every Jharkhandi forward together. Concluding his message, Soren said:
“Congratulations to every Jharkhandi on our government. Our fight is unwavering and eternal. The struggle continues and will endure till our last breath.”