The Cabinet expansion by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday is a significant political development. The induction of 11 MLAs into the Council of Ministers completes the Cabinet in one go, with a mix of old and new faces. The distribution of the 11 ministers includes six from the JMM, four from Congress, and one from the RJD, reflecting the balance of power between the coalition partners.
Two women ministers from Congress—Dipika Pandey Singh and Shilpi Neha Tirkey—maintain gender representation in the Cabinet, just as in the previous government. Five of the newly sworn-in ministers have been retained from the earlier Hemant Soren-led INDIA government. This also signals continuity in governance as these individuals bring their experience to the table.
There had been speculation that Soren might leave some berths vacant to use as bargaining tools for future political manoeuvres, but that has not been the case. The new Cabinet sees a slight reshuffling, with the JMM increasing its representation by one minister, bringing its tally to eight members, including the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Congress and RJD retain their previous share of the ministerial posts. JMM, which holds the largest number of MLAs with 34, has more influence over the Cabinet, followed by Congress with 16 and RJD with four.
The new ministers represent a broad geographic and social spectrum, ensuring that all five administrative divisions of Jharkhand are adequately represented in the Cabinet. The regional balance includes significant representation from tribal areas, particularly from Santhal Pargana, a key region for the JMM. Hemant Soren himself represents Barhait, and other tribal-dominated constituencies are covered by Hafizul Hasan, Irfan Ansari, and Dipika Pandey Singh. The Kolhan division has Deepak Birua and Ramdas Soren as its representatives, while South Chotanagpur is covered by Chamra Linda and Shilpi Neha Tirkey, and North Chotanagpur by Sudivya Kumar and Yogendra Prasad.
This expansion of the Cabinet will likely be followed by portfolio assignments, which are expected to take place in the first Cabinet meeting on Friday. While JMM is expected to retain control over major ministries such as Finance, Revenue, and Mines, other important sectors like Power, Urban Development, and Transport are likely to be handled by Congress and RJD, in line with the coalition’s power-sharing arrangement.
Among the ministers retained from the previous government, Ramdas Soren and Deepak Birua hold particular importance as they come from the Kolhan division, a region where the BJP has been making significant inroads. Ramdas Soren’s retention is particularly significant as he replaced former JMM leader Champai Soren, who had switched allegiance to the BJP. Birua’s reappointment is also a strategic move, ensuring JMM’s continued control in the Kolhan region, which is crucial for the party’s political survival.
Irfan Ansari’s retention is noteworthy, especially considering the BJP’s attack on him during the election campaign, led by Himanta Biswa Sarma. In contrast, Hafizul Hasan’s strong electoral performance, where he won by over 20,000 votes, further solidified his place in the Cabinet.
Dipika Pandey Singh’s appointment as the first woman minister from the Santhal Pargana region is seen as a significant step towards greater inclusivity. Being the daughter-in-law of former Bihar minister Awadh Bihari Singh, she brings with her a legacy of political influence.
With this new Cabinet formation, Hemant Soren has not only ensured that key political and regional interests are represented but also set the stage for governance that prioritizes both experience and fresh perspectives. As the state gears up for the first Cabinet meeting, all eyes will be on the portfolio distribution and the execution of key policies to further consolidate the government’s position.