Shibu Soren

It was way back in 1969 when Shibu Soren founded the Sonat Santhal Samaj and has ever since held sway on the tribal sentiments by upholding their rights.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren has been one of India's foremost tribal leaders for several years now, in spite of his corrupt image after allegations that Narasimha Rao bribed him into supporting his government.

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The Jharkhand leader founded the Sonal Santhal Samaj in 1969. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 and has been re-elected several terms. In 1995, when the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council, Soren was nominated its chairman.

In 1997, Soren supported the minority government of Laloo Prasad Yadav in Bihar on the condition that the assembly would take up the Jharkhand bill. The bill was passed, and after Parliament's approval, Jharkhand came into being.

Soren's political career has all through been marked with highs and lows, including several occasions of imprisonments. He has been charge sheeted by the CBI for the possession of assets disproportionate to his income.