Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren has resigned form the post of Jharkhand chief minister after Enforcement Directorate took him into custody in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Senior JMM leader and minister in the Hemant Soren Cabinet, Champai Soren has been chosen as the new Legislative Party leader and will soon take oath as the new Jharkhand CM.
“CM Hemant Soren has decided to resign. Champai Soren has been chosen as the new leader of the Legislative party… All the MLAs are with us…,” said Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur.
Jharkhand Minister Banna Gupta said that a delegation has met Jharkhand Governor to administer oath to the new CM.
“We have chosen Champai Soren as the leader of the Legislative Party. We came to the Raj Bhawan to request the Governor for the oath ceremony,” Gupta said.
The development comes amid strong buzz of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with money laundering case related to an alleged land scam.
A team of ED officials is currently questioning Hemant Soren at his residence in Ranchi. JMM MP Mahua Maji said that the ED has taken him in the custody and he has tendered his resignation.
“The CM is in ED custody. The CM has gone to the Governor with the ED team to submit his resignation… Champai Soren will be the new Chief Minister… We have enough numbers…,” Maji said.
ED officials arrived at Soren’s residence at around 1 pm and reportedly took him into custody after hours of questioning.
Earlier on Monday, the ED officials had visited his residence in Delhi and seized a BMW car along with Rs 36 lakh cash.