Is Kalpana Soren qualified to become next CM of Jharkhand?

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) emerged victorious in the 2019 assembly elections, leading to Hemant Soren assuming the role of Chief Minister. However, Soren is currently under scrutiny by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over allegations of illegal mining contracts. Despite having evaded 10 ED summons already, there is widespread speculation that he may face arrest at any time.

Soren, who is in charge of the Department of mining and Geology, was granted a mining lease of 0.88 acres in the Ranchi district in June 2021. Following public outcry, he relinquished the lease in February 2022. It’s worth noting that elected officials are prohibited from entering into contracts with the government. The ED is also investigating other cases against him.

In light of these developments, the JMM has reportedly devised a contingency plan, often referred to as Plan B. With Soren’s arrest appearing increasingly likely, this Plan B has become a topic of widespread discussion.

The backup plan involves Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren. Although she is not currently a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), this issue is expected to be addressed. Political analysts are confident that Kalpana Soren is likely to succeed her husband as Chief Minister.

Kalpana Soren has been a constant presence alongside her husband at public events, and her active participation in various women’s development programs has not gone unnoticed. Despite this, she has remained largely silent on political matters.

Who Is Kalpana Soren?

Kalpana Soren, wife of Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is often seen accompanying her husband at public events. Recently, she was present on stage during a function celebrating the completion of four years of the Soren government. Soren is a native of Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. Like her husband Hemant Soren, she is also from the Santhali Adivasi community.

When Hemant Soren took the oath as Chief Minister in 2019, journalists questioned Kalpana about her potential entry into politics. She responded that she was content fulfilling her family responsibilities. Kalpana hails from Rairangpur in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha and, like Soren, belongs to a Santhali tribal family. Interestingly, India’s President Draupadi Murmu is also from Mayurbhanj.

Hemant Soren and Kalpana married each other on February 7, 2006. Ampa Murmu, her father, served as a captain in the Indian Army. In an interview last year, he revealed that Kalpana Soren was born in Kapurthala, Punjab in 1976. The army had posted him there at that time. Kalpana Soren mothers two children and she also runs a school in the Bariatu area of Ranchi.

Regarding Kalpana’s educational qualifications, she holds an M.Tech and an MBA, making her more academically qualified than her husband, who enrolled for B.Tech after intermediate but did not complete the course. Ampa Murmu has expressed confidence in his daughter’s abilities, stating that she is well-equipped to handle any significant responsibility if the need arises.

In addition to politics, Kalpana has participated in various women’s development programs, although she has never made any political statements.

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