Is this the end of Soren's political career?

New Delhi: Political reactions to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren getting life imprisonment in a murder case have been swift. While Soren's backbone JMM hinted that he would appeal in a higher court, the BJP demanded his immediate resignation from the Lok Sabha seat.

JMM MP from Jamshedpur, Sudesh Mahto said, "There is no question of Shibu Soren resigning from JMM as he is simply a victim of conspiracy. The party will still function under his leadership. He will guide them from jail."

Given the fact that the Madhu Koda government in Jharkhand is supported by JMM, which is also the second largest party in Jharkhand, Soren’s conviction and subsequent life imprisonment sentence, may prove a major blow for the party.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar has said that the party will " raise the issue of tainted ministers in Parliament further."

Is this the end of Soren’s political journey?

"The court has already given its verdict. There is nothing much to talk about it now. However, Shibu Soren still has the legal provision of filing an appeal in the higher court. Despite the fact that Soren has three months to go in for an appeal, we feel that morality must be upheld," says AICC General-Secretary Satyavrat Chaturvedi .

“BJP will still raise the issue of tainted ministers in Parliament. Soren must resign from Lok Sabha seat,” says BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.

“Shibu Soren's son will buy the court and the judges and will get bail for his father. Soren's chartered accountant Sushil Kumar has threatened us. But I will fight till the very end,” says Shashinath Jha's mother, Priyamvada Devi.

“We are ready to fight for justice for our deceased father. This compensation holds no value to our family,” says Jha’s daughter Kavita.

"Soren is a responsible and senior political leader. He should know himself what he must do now. There is no question of any affect on the Jharkhand government or the Government at the Centre because of this incident," he added.

Though Congress does not want to be seen as backing Soren, it is also trying not to distance from him completely.

The Congress has neither said that Soren should resign from the Lok Sabha nor that he should stay on—perhaps because Soren’s party remains important for Congress in Jharkhand.

RJD MP, Aloke Kumar Mehta, said that it was too early to comment on the issue as yet. "I think the law should take its own course."

Murky tale of cold-blooded murder

According to the CBI, utter disrespect was shown towards Jha's body and it was this charge that was considered while pronouncing the sentence against all the other accused besides Soren.

Highlighting the motive of Nand Kishore Mehta for his involvement in the crime, the agency said the convict, with an aim to curry political favour from JMM chief, invited the hapless victim at his house for a dinner and killed him in a clandestine manner.

To substantiate the claim, CBI officials said Mehta was rewarded with a JMM ticket to contest the assembly election.

Shibu Soren and his aides had always lived on the hope that Shashinath Jha's body was never found as the CBI could not match the Shashinath's DNA samples of with the skeleton that was found.

However, Soren and his aides' hopes were dashed when the skeleton was later identified as that of Shashinath Jha's after the CBI conducted a biometric brain mapping test.

Looking at the legal and political impact of the verdict, Soren need not resign from his post of an MP despite being convicted and announced a death sentence since he can file for an appeal in the higher court.

However on the political front, it will perhaps be extremely difficult for him to hold on to his position as an MP. Under Section VIII of the IPC, Soren though not be allowed to contest the next elections, need not resign immediately as an MP. He can hold on to his post until he files for an appeal.