Jharkhand | A bold restart

A week can be an eternity in coalition politics. Hemant Soren’s seven-day wait between taking oath as Jharkhand’s chief minister on November 28 and unveiling his cabinet on December 5 speaks volumes. Yet, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president seems to have embarked on his fourth term with a clear sense of purpose.At his inaugural cabinet meeting on December 6, Soren issued a 17-point directive to his newly inducted team of 11 ministers. Chief among this was a strict instruction to scrutinise the backgrounds of personal secretaries and staff, ensuring that “controversial employees do not find a place in the minister’s office”. This cautionary stance reflects lessons learnt the hard way. In May, the Enforcement Directorate’s arrest of Alamgir Alam, then rural development minister, had deepened the shadow already cast over the administration. The scandal erupted when investigators uncovered Rs 35 crore in cash from a flat linked to Alam’s personal secretary Sanjiv Lal, and his domestic help Jehangir Alam. Now, buoyed by a resounding electoral victory—his JMM-led alliance won 56 of the state’s 81 assembly seats—Soren is acutely aware of the weight of public trust. He knows the very policies that have endeared him to his tribal and rural constituents, such as the Maiya Samman Yojana, also make him a target of Opposition attacks, particularly on corruption. His focus now is twofold: to combat corruption and project an image of unimpeachable integrity.Soren has already delivered on a key electoral promise by increasing financial assistance under the Maiya Samman Yojana from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500. Launched in August, the scheme provides aid to women aged 18-50 and was credited with playing a pivotal role in the coalition’s victory. However, the expanded outlay presents significant fiscal challenges. The scheme will cost the state exchequer Rs 16,000 crore annually. It’s no surprise, then, that Soren has called for stringent financial discipline among his ministers while also exploring legal avenues to recover Rs 1.36 lakh crore in unpaid coal royalties and land compensation from the central government..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}The 17-point advisory, issued at the second cabinet meeting post-portfolio allocation, is unprecedented in Jharkhand’s legislative history. It urges ministers to evaluate the viability of proposals before presenting them at cabinet meetings. The advisory mandates consultations with the departments of finance, law and personnel to forestall legal or fiscal hurdles. Soren has further directed his ministers to visit districts to assess departmental operations, identify gaps and gather feedback from beneficiaries of government schemes. There is a clear push to expedite long-delayed projects and extend government initiatives to remote and often neglected regions.Revenue generation remains another critical focus. Ministers have been tasked with reviewing unused departmental assets and ensuring their optimal use, alongside beginning preparations for the 2025-26 fiscal year with clear targets. The directive also prioritises resolving pending employee promotions, addressing court cases and bolstering the government’s legal standing.Coalition management, however, remains a minefield. With seven ministers from the JMM, four from the Congress and one from the RJD, the delicate task of portfolio allocation has already sparked controversy. A leaked letter purportedly written by the Congress leadership hit the public space shortly after the swearing-in ceremony. It speaks about approving portfolios for the Congress ministers, raising questions about Soren’s authority. While the JMM, with 34 MLAs, is the largest party, Soren relies on the Congress’s 16 MLAs for a simple majority, leaving room for potential pressure from the party’s high command in Delhi.Meanwhile, Soren has reinstated Anurag Gupta as the state’s director general of police, a controversial move given Gupta’s removal by the Election Commission. Nonetheless, he has instructed the police to intensify their crackdown on crime, particularly cybercrime and organised criminal activities.For now, CM Soren seems to have set the tone for decisive governance, steering through the intricate dynamics of politics with an eye on the state’s future.- EndsPublished By: Shyam BalasubramanianPublished On: Dec 13, 2024Must Watch

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Jharkhand | A bold restart

Soren's focus now is twofold: to combat corruption and project an image of unimpeachable integrity

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