Kalpna Soren’s ascent: From newcomer to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s key campaigner

Kalpna Soren has become a significant figure in Jharkhand politics. Despite entering the political arena only a few months ago, her role as a campaigner for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has made her a well-known name.
Kalpna, fluent in Hindi and English, is noted for her ability to connect with both party workers and the public. Her speeches draw large crowds, and she has gained popularity for her engaging style of communication.
Born in March 1985, Kalpna holds an engineering degree and an MBA. Her entry into politics followed the arrest of her husband, Hemant Soren, in January 2024 on money laundering charges.
After Hemant Soren, the then-Chief Minister of Jharkhand, was jailed, Kalpna took on a leading role. She made her political debut at a rally in Delhi before the Lok Sabha elections. Kalpna was tasked with campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, and under her leadership, the alliance won all five tribal-reserved seats in Jharkhand. She later contested and won the Gandey bypolls by a margin of 26,000 votes, a seat vacated after Sarfaraz Ahmad’s election to the Rajya Sabha.
Kalpna has gradually taken on more of the political workload previously shouldered by her husband, Hemant Soren. While Hemant continues to run the Jharkhand government, Kalpna has focused her attention on campaigning and party outreach. She has travelled extensively across Jharkhand, holding 70 public meetings for the Maiyan Samman Yojna and attracting significant support, particularly from women.
Kalpna’s ability to connect with women voters is seen as a key factor in her growing influence. Women are expected to play a decisive role in the upcoming Assembly elections, with female voters numbering 1.29 crore out of a total of 2.6 crore in Jharkhand.
Hemant Soren’s government has catered to the female electorate through programs like the Maiyan Samman Yojna, which has provided financial assistance to over 45 lakh women.
The JMM hopes that Kalpna’s appeal, particularly to female voters, could be a game-changer. If a significant portion of women beneficiaries vote for the party, the JMM believes it will have a strong chance of success in the assembly elections. As one JMM leader noted, “There is excitement and a rush among party members to get Kalpna’s time for campaigning.”
Kalpna is scheduled to address 70 more meetings starting from today, with expectations that her presence will boost the party’s prospects in key tribal seats.
The Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule for Jharkhand Assembly elections on Tuesday. As per the schedule, the elections in Jharkhand will be held in two phases – November 13 and 20. The result for which will be declared on November 23.