Ranchi- Jharkhand's new Chief Minister Hemant Soren is expected to induct at least five new faces into his cabinet, sources revealed on Monday. Soren, set to begin his fourth term, will be sworn in on November 28.

The cabinet formation is currently under discussion, with Soren having held consultations with close aides at the CM's residence. Alliance leaders have also been consulted to determine ministerial allocations. Key coalition allies, the Congress and RJD, are expected to finalize their ministerial nominations through their party leaders. The CPI-ML, another alliance partner, has not yet confirmed its cabinet participation. A Left party could hold a ministerial position in Jharkhand for the first time.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leads the ruling coalition with 34 MLAs, followed by the Congress (14), the RJD (4), and the CPI-ML (2). The maximum cabinet size in Jharkhand is 12 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Sources suggest the cabinet may comprise six JMM, three or four Congress, one or two RJD, and potentially one CPI-ML representative if they decide to participate.

Among the potential JMM candidates are first-time ministerial hopefuls Louis Marandi, Stephen Marandi, Mathura Mahato, and Anant Pratap Deo. Deepak Birua, MLA of Chaibasa, and Ramdas Soren, MLA of Ghatsila, are expected to keep their ministerial roles.

The Congress is considering Rameshwar Oraon, Pradeep Yadav, Deepika Pandey Singh, and Anoop Singh for potential ministerial roles. RJD’s Suresh Paswan from Deoghar is also considered a strong contender.

If no cabinet lineup consensus is reached by November 28, Chief Minister Soren may only swear in two or three ministers. The first cabinet meeting, scheduled post-inauguration, will focus on crucial decisions for the state's governance and development.

Prominent leaders of the India bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, and Arvind Kejriwal, are expected at the swearing-in ceremony. Preparations for the grand event have begun.