Hemant Soren stakes claim to national tribal space

Last week, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren’s presence in Delhi along with his wife and MLA Kalpana Soren triggered speculations that JMM might break away from the INDIA bloc and move towards NDA. Soren remained silent but the party’s social media handles claimed that “Jharkhand will never yield”.

JMM leaders told ET that the state is facing friction with the Center over funds but insisted it would not lead to an alignment with the BJP as neither side would gain meaningfully from such a shift.

After returning from Delhi, Soren attended the winter session of the assembly and met tribal leaders and representatives from various states at his residence in Ranchi on Friday.
He called for unity among tribal communities in India and argued that his elevation as chief minister had prompted other states such as Odisha and Chhattisgarh to elect tribal leaders. Since there is currently no clear national tribal figure, Soren and others are trying to fill this gap.

JMM’s victory in the recent Ghatsila bypoll by defeating both the BJP and Jairam Mahto’s JLKM is being interpreted by the ruling party as its mandate being renewed every year towards its second term.