Trouble in tribal land

Jharkhand politics is in a state of chaos, and it could have serious repercussions for Hemant Soren and his party

- SONI MISHRA

HEMANT SOREN LOOKED every bit the son of the soil in a white kurta-pyjama and red ‘gamcha’ around his neck—a departure from the ‘smart casual’ western attire that he usually sports—as he arrived at the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha on February 5 to take part in the vote of confidence for the Champai Soren government. The proceedings were necessitated by Hemant’s resignation as chief minister just before his dramatic arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on the night of January 31 in connection with the alleged irregularities in a land purchase in Ranchi.

Still in ED custody, Hemant was at the centre of the discussion on the floor of the house. He made an emotive speech, playing up his tribal identity and dubbing the ED action as political vendetta by the ‘anti-tribal’ BJP. “If they feel that by putting me behind the bars they will succeed in their aim of finishing an adivasi leader or finishing the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, they are mistaken,” he declared. “This is Jharkhand, which has fought for its rights and will not back down.” Champai Soren won the trust vote with 47 MLAs backing him.

Hemant, 48, wanted to project himself as a political martyr, and his speech reflected his concerns about an aggressive BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and the state election. His arrest poses an existential threat to his party, which was founded by his father, Shibu Soren. And the turn of events brings into focus yet again the wobbliness of Jharkhand politics.