CM likely to name Jagarnath’s replacement later this month

Ranchi: Chief minister Hemant Soren is likely to appoint a new minister in his cabinet later this month to fill in the void which has been created by the death of former education and excise minister Jagarnath Mahto, the central leadership of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has hinted.
“Late Jagarnath da’s shraddha ceremony will be held on April 18. The party’s leadership will deliberate on his replacement in the cabinet after the last rites are completed,” JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya told TOI on Thursday.
Mahto, a former MLA from Dumri constituency in Giridih, died at a hospital in Chennai on April 6 following complications of his lung transplant which he underwent in November 2020 after contracting Covid-19. Mahto was a part of Soren’s cabinet since the coalition government took the oath of office in December 2019.
Mahto’s death has reduced the size of Soren’s ministerial council to 10 members. Much like his predecessor Raghubar Das, Soren has left one berth in the 12-member ministerial council vacant since he assumed office. The education and excise department portfolios are currently with the chief minister.
JMM insiders hinted that Mahto’s widow Baby Devi will be the party’s likely candidate in the by-election to the Dumri assembly constituency which will be due in another six months as the couple’s son, Akhilesh will not turn 25 years within this period. However, Baby Devi is unlikely to be a cabinet pick even if she manages to win the election.
Notably, Hafizul Hassan, a first-time MLA from Deoghar’s Madhupur, was made a minister after the demise of his father Haji Hussain Ansari two years ago.
“Veteran MLAs like Nalin Soren, Dipak Birua, Stephen Marandi, Savita Mahto, among others are strong contenders for the cabinet post. With the Lok Sabha election a year away, the cabinet berth is unlikely to be left vacant for six months and one among these lawmakers may get picked,” a JMM central committee member told TOI.
Jama MLA Sita Soren, who is Soren’s sister-in-law, and Borio MLA Lobin Hembrom are not being considered, insiders said.
Another leader told TOI that the party might wait for a month before naming the new member. “Congress will shuffle its quota of ministers very soon. The party leadership can make an announcement about its new cabinet pick during that time,” he added.