It’s early days yet, but Kalpana Soren’s ‘avenger’ avatar is a hit with JMM

Vipatti bhi sampatti lekar aati hai (Trying times too bring their own wealth).”

This is how a leader close to the Sorens describes the latest member of the family to have made her political debut: Kalpana Murmu Soren. In the articulate 48-year-old who seems to have found her feet amazingly quickly after the resignation as chief minister and subsequent arrest of her husband Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) clearly sees a new hope.

However, as the “vipatti” continues, how long before the “sampatti” runs out – against pressures from the Centre as well as from inside the party – is the question many are asking.

Kalpana chose March 4, the JMM foundation day, to mark her formal entry into politics – more than a month after Hemant was jailed in an alleged money laundering case on January 31.

It was a speech full of rhetoric and tears, with Kalpana evoking the memory of Hemant and invoking his old parents, including father Shibu Soren, who continues to be held in high esteem in the state, as the man behind the creation of Jharkhand.

“My in-laws are teary-eyed and I thought I would not cry, but I am standing teary-eyed,” she said, in Hindi. “However, seeing your love and affection, I am feeling strong. I am seeing the anger… there is fire… Your scream should reach Hemant Soren in Hotwar Jail (Ranchi). Long Live Hemant Soren!” she said.

Vowing to “continue the struggle like my husband”, Kalpana said injustice had been done to him, and asked if the people in Delhi had “dil (heart)”. What was Hemant’s crime, she said. “Is asking for Rs 1.36 lakh crore (the money the JMM government claims is due to Jharkhand on account of the land acquired by Coal India) back a crime? Or asking for 27% reservation a crime? Is asking for an