Ranchi witnessed a grand swearing-in ceremony on Thursday as Hemant Soren took the oath as the 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The ceremony, held in the presence of a host of prominent political figures, marked a significant political milestone for the 49-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Soren.

Notable attendees included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, underscoring the importance of the occasion.

Soren, who retained his Barhait seat in the recent assembly elections by defeating BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom with a margin of 39,791 votes, begins his fourth term as Chief Minister. The JMM-led alliance secured a resounding victory, winning 56 out of the 81 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly, while the BJP-led NDA managed to secure 24 seats.

In light of the swearing-in ceremony, schools in Ranchi city remained closed on Thursday to facilitate the smooth conduct of the event.

Hemant Soren took oath as the 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand in a grand ceremony held in Ranchi on Thursday. The event was attended by several key opposition leaders, showcasing a strong display of political unity. Among the other attendees were NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Arvind Kejriwal, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Mehbooba Mufti, and Tejashwi Yadav.

The city witnessed heightened security measures, with traffic regulations and school closures in Ranchi ensuring a smooth conduct of the ceremony. Posters celebrating the occasion were displayed throughout the city, adding to the festive atmosphere. On the eve of the event, Hemant Soren, along with senior officials, visited Morabadi ground to review the final arrangements.

Soren took the oath alone, with the expansion of his cabinet scheduled to take place after a vote of confidence in the assembly. This was confirmed by Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir. The ceremony marked a significant beginning for Soren's fourth term as Chief Minister, as his leadership is expected to steer the state in a new direction.

"It's heartening to have such esteemed leaders join us for this important occasion," said Soren, reflecting on the significance of the event.