Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana to contest bypoll from Gandey assembly seat

NEW DELHI: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced on Thursday that Kalpana Soren, the wife of former chief minister Hemant Soren who is currently in jail, will be contesting the bypoll for the Gandey assembly seat. The seat, located in Giridih district, became vacant after JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad resigned.

Kalpana, who is a homemaker, holds both MTech and MBA degrees. She completed her schooling in Baripada, Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, and pursued her engineering and MBA education at different institutions in Bhubaneswar.

Her entry into politics was marked by her speech at the JMM's 51st foundation day celebration in Giridih district on March 4. During her address, she alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched by opponents since the formation of the Hemant Soren-led coalition government in 2019. She also stated that Jharkhand would provide a fitting response to the forces responsible for her husband's imprisonment.

Hemant Soren was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged land scam. The bypoll for the Gandey assembly seat is set to take place on May 20, coinciding with the parliamentary elections in the state.