Fri Apr 18 18:36:33 UTC 2025: ## Jharkhand CM Faces Opposition Over Nine-Day Trip to Europe
**Ranchi, Jharkhand –** Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s nine-day trip to Sweden and Spain with his wife, Kalpana Soren, an MLA, has sparked controversy. The BJP’s state president and Leader of the Opposition, Babulal Marandi, criticized the trip, questioning its timing amidst law and order concerns and the exclusion of the State’s Industries Minister.
Marandi highlighted the ongoing law and order issues and power crisis in Jharkhand, arguing that the Chief Minister’s focus should be on addressing these pressing domestic matters. He questioned the inclusion of Kalpana Soren in the official delegation, particularly in the absence of the Industries Minister, Sanjay Prasad Yadav, an RJD leader. Marandi alleges this is not the first time Yadav has been sidelined from important investment meetings.
The CM’s office maintains the trip is crucial for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in key sectors like steel, energy, and manufacturing. The delegation, which includes senior government officials, aims to meet with foreign investors in Barcelona, Madrid, and Gothenburg to showcase Jharkhand’s industrial roadmap and investment opportunities. However, Marandi’s criticism centers on the perceived lack of transparency and the use of government funds for a trip that includes the CM’s wife. He has demanded clarification on her official role in the delegation. The trip, scheduled from April 19th to 27th, will include business forums and B2B meetings.
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