Don’t be silly, it’s just Shibu Soren

Frankly, can you imagine someone other than Soren as Chief Minister of Jharkhand? Don’t answer that. You might err on either side of political correctness, writes Indrajit Hazra.

Embarrassed? Not at all. Ashamed? Don’t be silly. Shibu Soren has become Chief Minister of Jharkhand and the world is all right. Frankly, can you imagine someone other than Soren as Chief Minister of Jharkhand? Don’t answer that. You might err on either side of political correctness. When we heard that his predecessor Madhu Koda had been summoned by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, we knew that Guruji was being reincarnated. Actually, when we heard that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh needed some numbers during the trust vote on July 22, we knew that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief would make a comeback that would be as flash and dexterous as a Saurav Ganguly returning to the field.

HT Image

So what happens to the tiny business of our gent in Ranchi’s involvement in the murder of his personal secretary Shash-inath Jha on November 28, 2006? Oh that? Oh well, the CBI took care of that. And what about the case awaiting a verdict that involves him in the murder of ten people killed in Chirudih village on January 23, 1975?

You mean you’ll hold back a person for something he might have done in 1975? Come on. A good clean government needed the numbers. Be real. You can’t make an omelette without having egg on your face. It’s Jharkhand, after all. And India.