Hemant Soren’s big bet, made former education minister’s wife a minister without becoming an MLA

Ranchi (IANS). CM Hemant Soren has made a big bet just before the possible by-elections in the Dumri assembly constituency of Jharkhand in the coming months. He has made his wife Baby Devi a minister on the vacant seat in the cabinet after the death of former Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto, who was an MLA from this region.

Baby Devi was administered the oath of office by Governor CP Radhakrishnan in a brief program held at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan on Monday.

It is discussed that like her husband, she will be allotted education and excise department as a minister.

Baby Devi somehow stuttered and read out the affidavit in Hindi.

Many dignitaries including Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Ministers Satyanand Bhokta and Banna Gupta were present on the occasion.

Baby Devi is not an MLA at present and as per rules, she needs to be elected as an MLA within the next six months to continue as a minister.

With her taking oath as a minister, it has been decided that Baby Devi will be the candidate from the ruling coalition in the by-election to be held in Dumri assembly constituency.

Jagarnath Mahto was the MLA of JMM from Dumri assembly constituency. He died on April 6 during treatment in Chennai.

Jagarnath Mahto was elected MLA for four consecutive terms from this constituency. After his death, discussions started about his legacy. Earlier there was talk of Jagarnath Mahato’s son Akhilesh Mahato contesting elections and becoming a minister. But because of his age being less than 25 years, his wife has been made a minister.

Please tell that CM Hemant Soren has done this kind of experiment earlier also. After the death of minister Haji Hussain Ansari, Soren gave place to his son Hafizul Hasan Ansari in the cabinet in the year 2021 without becoming an MLA. Later, he reached the assembly after winning the by-election as a JMM candidate.