Thaindian News

By Nityanand Shukla
Ranchi, May 19 (IANS) Jharkhand Chief Minister and president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Shibu Soren always hogs the limelight — but for controversial reasons.

His critics call him a hard bargainer and an unpredictable politician who uses constitutional provisions for self-interest.

In July 2004, Soren, who was then central coal minister, allegedly caused embarrassment to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by trying to evade arrest against a warrant issued in connection with a three-decade-old massacre case.

Soren seems to be the only politician in the country who became a state’s chief minister thrice without being a legislator.

As per constitutional provisions, a person, who is not a legislator, can be sworn-in as chief minister but he has to get elected to the state assembly within six months.

“Soren has made a mockery of the constitution. He became chief minister thrice without being a legislator,” said former chief minister and president of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) Babulal Marandi.

Marandi has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging Soren’s continuation as Jharkhand chief minister without being a member of the assembly.

Soren became chief minister for the first time in March 2005 despite the fact that the numbers were against him. At that time he was central coal minister and a Lok Sabha MP. He had to quit as chief minister after he failed to prove his majority in the house.

He became chief minister for the second time in August 2008. At that time, Soren was a Lok Sabha MP and lost the Tamar assembly bypoll in January 2009. As a result, he was forced to quit as chief minister.

Soren’s third stint as chief minister started Dec 30 last year. He is still not a member of the state assembly.

He was undecided about fighting an assembly poll when the present political crisis in the state began. The crisis was sparked April 27 when he voted in favour of the United Progressive Alliance government on a cut motion moved in the Lok Sabha by his ally in Jharkhand, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP reacted sharply for his act and April 28 announced withdrawal of support from his government in Jharkhand.

On Tuesday, soon after the JMM and the BJP inked a deal for sharing power in the state for 28 months each, Soren announced he will quit as chief minister.

Arjun Munda, BJP national general secretary and former chief minister, is likely to head the new government. According to BJP leaders, Soren will quit May 25.

“History will remember Soren for using constitutional provisions for self-interest. This is the worst example of misusing the provisions,” Shailesh Sinha, Jharkhand Congress general secretary, told IANS.