- By Surarika Das
- Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:04 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The residence of Jharkhand's Chief Minister Hemant Soren has invited a fresh wave of controversy after opposition accused him of making another "sheesh mahal." The BJP has compared the Jharkhand CM's house to that of Delhi's former CM Arvind Kejriwal.
Hemant Soren's bungalow is to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 67 crore. The BJP has called the building of the property a waste of public money; however, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, or JMM, defended it as an essential infrastructure project related to administration and security.
The state government, on March 25, sought quotations for the construction of the CM's residence at Ranchi's Kanke Road. The government has said the tender would be published on the website on April 2, followed by a pre-bid meeting on April 8. The last date for submission of bids is April 29, and the bids will be opened on April 30.
The foundation stone for this new chief minister's residence was laid on May 12 last year. On that day, Hemant Soren, accompanied by his wife MLA Kalpana Soren, performed rituals and prayers at the Chief Minister's residential complex.
The new structure is constructed after demolishing the British-era house. The government said that the building was in a dilapidated state and was not situated to modern requirements.
According to the government, this new residence will feature modern security systems, ample space for meetings and administrative operations, and essential amenities. The government argues that this residence is being constructed not solely for Hemant Soren but for the use of all future chief ministers as well.
However, the opposition continues to raise questions regarding this project. BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi has alleged that the Hemant Soren government is constructing a "Sheesh Mahal" (palace of mirrors) for itself using the public's hard-earned money.
He argues that whenever the state asks for funds for developments, the ruling government cites a shortage of funds. However, they have enough money to build a residence with crores of rupees. The Opposition is raising this issue among the public to demonstrate that the government is engaging in wasteful expenditure, whereas the government is presenting it as a matter of development and administrative necessity.