Jharkhand Headed Towards Power Shift? Hemant Soren-BJP Meet Reports Spark Speculation

Last Updated:December 02, 2025, 19:14 IST

“CM Hemant Soren and Kalpana Soren have been in Delhi for the past several days. They will return to Ranchi from Delhi tomorrow,” according to News18 Bihar Jharkhand.

Jharkhand CM and JMM chief Hemant Soren. (CMO/PTI)

Amid reports of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana’s talks with Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP) leaders, speculation is rife that the state may see a power shift.

“CM Hemant Soren and Kalpana Soren have been in Delhi for the past several days. They will return to Ranchi from Delhi tomorrow," according to News18 Bihar Jharkhand.

Jharkhand: How the numbers add up

Of the total 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand, 41 are required for a majority.

In the existing JMM-led alliance, JMM has 34 seats, Congress has 16 MLAs, Rashtriya Janata Dal 4 and Left 2, which brings the total to 56.

The BJP has 21 seats, which means an alliance between the two, along with the LJP’s one MLA, AJSU’s one and the JD(U)’s one, would deliver 58 seats.

To avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law, at least 11 Congress lawmakers would have to split en masse, though any final decision lies with the Speaker, JMM’s Rabindra Nath Mahto.

The buzz

Some reports suggest that at least eight of the 16 Congress MLAs are also in talks to break ranks and join a new configuration led by Soren with outside support from the BJP.

A report by The Sunday Guardian suggested that senior Congress sources privately admitted that discussions are underway, adding that “things will become clearer within two days".

Another layer to the speculation is the Centre’s apparent plan to confer the Bharat Ratna next year on JMM founder and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who passed away in August. Several within the JMM believe this could be both a symbolic outreach and a political opening toward a new alignment.

Sources cited in the media indicated that even the post of Deputy Chief Minister has been discussed as part of negotiations.

Why the shift?

According to reports, the JMM is keen on a better relationship with the Centre for development of Jharkhand.

Soren is also camp worried about the pending Enforcement Directorate cases linked to alleged corruption.

Under the new Bill introduced in Parliament in August which is currently before a Joint Parliamentary Committee, a Chief Minister or Prime Minister must step down on the 31st day of being arrested, or automatically lose the post. This has added to the urgency, according to reports.

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