Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s new cabinet showcases a mix of seasoned politicians and fresh faces. The 11-member team includes five first-time ministers: Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Yogendra Mahato, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, Chamra Linda, and Sanjay Prasad Yadav.
At 66, Radha Krishna Kishore, the Congress MLA, is the oldest member. With a political career spanning decades, he has served in previous governments, including the Arjun Munda cabinet. Kishore has represented several parties, including the JD-U, BJP, and AJSU, before reclaiming his seat with the Congress in this year’s elections.
On the other hand, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, a 33-year-old Congress MLA from Mandar, is the youngest minister. A postgraduate in marketing communication from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Tirkey transitioned from the corporate world to politics after her father, Bandhu Tirkey, lost his legislative seat due to a conviction.
Deepak Birua, the Chaibasa MLA from the JMM, has returned to the cabinet for the third time this year. After Champai Soren’s defection to the BJP, Birua has emerged as a prominent JMM leader in the Kolhan region.
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Chamra Linda, the Bishunpur MLA, has secured his first ministerial berth after serving four consecutive terms. Once a fiery tribal student leader, Linda rejoined the JMM before the elections after a brief rebellion earlier this year.
Sudivya Kumar Sonu, the Giridih MLA, and Yogendra Mahato, representing Gomia, have been inducted as ministers for the first time. Both are considered close allies of Hemant Soren.
RJD’s Sanjay Prasad Yadav and Congress’ Dr. Irfan Ansari and Deepika Pandey Singh have also been sworn in, reflecting the coalition’s strength. Meanwhile, Hafizul Hasan Ansari and Ramdas Soren have been reappointed, cementing their positions as key JMM leaders.
This diverse cabinet aims to balance experience and new energy, setting the stage for governance under Hemant Soren’s leadership.