Who is Kalpana Soren, in line to take over as Jharkhand chief minister?

The daughter-in-law of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren stays away from the political limelight but is a regular at programmes that seek to empower women. 

As investigating agencies close in on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife is being propped to be the next chief ministerial face in the state, sources said. The daughter-in-law of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren stays away from the political limelight even as she runs a school and is a regular in programmes that seek to empower women.

Kalpana Soren belongs to a business family from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj. Her mother is a homemaker. Born in 1976 in Ranchi, Kalpana studied at a private school and went on to graduate from a state-run college in Ranchi. She married Hemant Soren on February 7, 2006 and the couple is parents to two children.

Also Read: | BJP drafted poll body's report: Hemant Soren after disqualification as MLA

Rarely seen on public platforms, she runs a private school and is a business woman. However, she has a keen interest in programmes that seek to empower women and events organised for children. She has regularly been spotted at such functions.

Many believe that being married into a political family she will be able to handle the political scenario in Jharkhand if given an opportunity to lead.

As a business woman, she was catapulted to the headlines when former Chief Minister and BJP leader Raghubar Das alleged that Hemant Soren misused his power to allot a plot for his wife’s business.

Hemant Soren has the industry department and Kalpana was alloted 11 acres of land from the plot pool created for the tribals to start industrial ventures. This was revealed by Raghuwar Das.