Hemant Soren stakes claim to form new Jharkhand government, oath on November 28

JMM executive president Hemant Soren will take oath as the Chief Minister on November 28, five days after his JMM-led alliance made a stunning comeback, winning 56 of 81 seats in the Assembly polls.

In Short

• Hemant Soren elected as legislature party leader by INDIA bloc leaders
• He presented letter of support of alliance members to Jharkhand Governor
• Soren's JMM-led alliance won 56 of 81 Assembly polls

JMM executive president Hemant Soren on Sunday tendered his resignation as the Jharkhand Chief Minister to the Governor and staked a claim to form the government, a day after he led his JMM-led alliance to a stunning victory in the state.

Soren said the oath-taking ceremony will be held on November 28. The development came after leaders of the INDIA bloc in the state unanimously elected him as the legislature party leader.

Soren met Governor Santosh Gangwar and submitted his resignation letter to him. He then staked claim to form the government for the second consecutive time.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Gangwar, Soren said, "I have staked claim to form the government, and have handed over a support letter of alliance partners to the governor. He invited us to form the government. The swearing in ceremony will be held on November 28."

In a stunning comeback, Soren's JMM-led alliance on Saturday stormed to power in Jharkhand for a second consecutive term, winning 56 seats in the 81-member Assembly, defying exit poll predictions which projected a BJP-led NDA win. The grouping comprises JMM, Congress, RJD and the Left parties.

The BJP, which ran a blitzkrieg campaign in the state, managed just 21 seats and its NDA allies got three. The majority mark is 41.

This is the first time that an incumbent government has been voted to power for a second consecutive time in Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000.

Soren will be sworn in as the 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

(with inputs from PTI)