Radha Krishna Kishore the Oldest and Shilpi Neha Tirkey the Youngest Minister in Hemant Soren's Latest Cabinet
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Ranchi, Dec 5 (NationPress) The Hemant Soren administration in Jharkhand has introduced its latest cabinet, showcasing a mix of seasoned politicians and new entrants. Among the 11 ministers, five are newcomers -- Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Yogendra Mahato, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, Chamra Linda, and Sanjay Prasad Yadav.
At the age of 66, Radha Krishna Kishore, representing the Congress party, stands as the cabinet's oldest member. His extensive legislative career spans decades, including service as a minister in the Arjun Munda administration. Over the years, he has represented multiple parties including the Congress, JD-U, BJP, and AJSU, before reclaiming his position on a Congress ticket in the recent Assembly elections.
In contrast, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, the Congress MLA from Mandar, is the youngest Minister at just 33 years old. She holds a postgraduate diploma in marketing communication from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, and has a background in the corporate sector. Her entry into politics was prompted by her father, Bandhu Tirkey, losing his MLA seat due to a court conviction.
Deepak Birua, an MLA from Chaibasa representing JMM, has been appointed as a Minister for the third time this year. His ministerial journey began in February of this year in Champai Soren's cabinet, followed by another appointment in July under Hemant Soren's (3.0) government. Birua has consistently won the Chaibasa seat, achieving victory in the 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024 elections. After Champai Soren's shift from JMM to BJP, Birua has become a key figure for JMM in the Kolhan division.
JMM leader Chamra Linda, who has been re-elected as the MLA from the Bishunpur Assembly seat for the fourth consecutive time, has secured his first cabinet position. Linda's political career began as a tribal student leader, gaining prominence as president of the Jharkhand Adivasi Chhatra Sangh in 2003 during the domicile movement. He was first elected as an MLA from Bishunpur in 2009 and has maintained a solid grip on the constituency. Earlier this year, during the Lok Sabha elections, Linda contested as an Independent candidate from the Lohardaga seat, leading to his suspension from the party. However, his suspension was lifted just before the Assembly elections, earning him a ministerial role.
MLA Ramdas Soren from Ghatsila, a member of the Santhal tribe, has been appointed as a Minister for the second time. He first ran for Assembly elections in 2005 as an Independent candidate but was unsuccessful. He was elected as an MLA for the first time on a JMM ticket in 2009, but faced defeat in 2014. Soren made a strong comeback, winning consecutive terms in 2019 and 2024. He was first inducted as a Minister in Hemant Soren's cabinet in July this year.
Sanjay Prasad Yadav, the sole representative from RJD in the cabinet, has been elected from the Godda Assembly seat in this term. He previously served as the MLA from this constituency in 2009 but faced defeats in 2005, 2014, and 2019 elections. Currently, Yadav is the General Secretary of Jharkhand RJD and is recognized for his close ties with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and party leader Tejashwi Yadav.
Dr. Irfan Ansari, a three-time consecutive winner of the Jamtara Assembly seat as a Congress candidate (2014, 2019, 2024), has been appointed a Minister for the second time. A prominent figure in Jharkhand politics, he is the son of former Godda MP Furkan Ansari, inheriting a rich political legacy. A graduate in MBBS, Dr. Ansari is not just known for his political acumen but also for his candid and often bold statements.
JMM MLA from Madhupur, Hafizul Hasan Ansari, has taken the oath as Minister for the fourth time. Politics is in his blood, having inherited a rich legacy from his father, Haji Hussain Ansari, who also represented the Madhupur constituency and served as a Minister in Hemant Soren's government. Hafizul Hasan's political journey began after the untimely demise of his father. He won the Madhupur by-election in 2021, marking his first entry into the Assembly. Even before being elected as an MLA, Chief Minister Hemant Soren recognized his potential and included him in the cabinet.
Congress MLA Deepika Pandey Singh from Mahagama has been sworn in as a Minister for the second time within just five months. Coming from a politically influential family, her father Arun Pandey and mother Pratibha Pandey were veteran Congress leaders in Ranchi. She is the daughter-in-law of Awadh Bihari Singh, a former Minister in the Bihar government. Deepika is widely recognized as one of Rahul Gandhi's close confidantes.
Mahato, the JMM MLA from Gomia, has been included in the cabinet for the first time. He was elected as an MLA for the first time in 2014 from the Gomia constituency, having begun his political career with Congress before joining JMM. A resident of Murubhanda village in Ramgarh district, he previously served as the chairman of the State Backward Classes Commission.
