Hemant Soren (born 10 August 1975) is an Indian politician and the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He leads the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the party founded by his father, the tribal leader Shibu Soren. He first became Chief Minister in 2013, returned in 2019, resigned and was arrested in a money-laundering case in January 2024, and came back to office that July before winning the state election in November 2024.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Hemant Soren |
| Born | 10 August 1975, Nemra, Ramgarh district, Bihar (now Jharkhand), India |
| Age | 51 |
| Party | Jharkhand Mukti Morcha |
| Office | Chief Minister of Jharkhand (2013–2014; 2019–2024; July 2024–present) |
| Constituency | Barhait |
| Education | Patna High School; Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra (did not complete) |
| Father | Shibu Soren |
| Spouse | Kalpana Soren |
| Children | 2 sons |
Early Life
Soren was born in Nemra village into a Santhal family. His father led the long movement for a separate Jharkhand state and was three times its Chief Minister. Hemant went to school in Patna and enrolled for mechanical engineering at BIT Mesra but left without a degree. The death of his elder brother, Durga Soren, in 2009 made him his father’s political heir.
Political Career
He was a member of the Rajya Sabha in 2009–10, won the Dumka assembly seat in 2009 and was Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-led government of Arjun Munda from 2010. After the JMM withdrew support he formed a government with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal and became Chief Minister on 13 July 2013, aged 37.
The BJP won in 2014 and he led the opposition. In December 2019 his alliance won 47 of 81 seats. His government campaigned on tribal land rights and a local-residents policy and ran welfare schemes during the pandemic.
The Enforcement Directorate accused him of illegally acquiring land in Ranchi. He resigned on 31 January 2024 and was arrested the same night; Champai Soren replaced him. The Jharkhand High Court granted him bail on 28 June 2024, observing that there was reason to believe he was not guilty, and he was sworn in again on 4 July. He has called the case political. In the November 2024 election the JMM-led alliance won 56 seats, helped by a monthly cash scheme for women, the Maiyan Samman Yojana.
Personal Life
His wife, Kalpana Soren, entered politics during his imprisonment and is a member of the assembly from Gandey. Shibu Soren died in August 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Hemant Soren born?
Hemant Soren was born on 10 August 1975 in Nemra, Ramgarh district, Bihar (now Jharkhand), India and is 51 years old.
Featured image: Hemant Soren (left), newly sworn in as Chief Minister of Jharkhand, calls on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, New Delhi, 22 July 2013. Photo by Prime Minister’s Office, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
