Jamshedpur: Former Coal and Mines Minister Sibu Soren who had resigned from the Union Cabinet after a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him, has said that he would be joining the Union Cabinet soon.

He, however, refused to divulge whether he would be given the same portfolio. Addressing a 'Parivartan rally" in Jamshedpur yesterday (Nov 22, 2004), Soren said that he should be given an opportunity to lead the State, if the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) was voted to power in the forthcoming Assembly polls in Jharkhand.

He assured the people that he would be able to lead the State to prosperity and rule it "much better than the present Government".

Recalling that nascent Jharkhand State was the outcome of decades-old struggle and sacrifices, the tribal leader regretted that power, "unfortunately fell in the hands of anti-Jharkhand forces who were more interested in their own development than the progress of the State".

Soren alleged that even the bureaucrats were not far behind in unfair practices and were conspiring to "harass" JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) workers and leaders. Soren said that the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government in the State had already been rejected by the electorate in the last Parliamentary poll and the "general masses have now made up their minds to teach the inefficient Government a lesson in the forthcoming Assembly polls".

The JMM, he said, would fulfil the aspiration of the masses as mineral-rich Jharkhand had the potential to become a model State of the country.

Soren had to resign after a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him by a Jamtara court a few months ago in connection with three-decades old Chirudih massacre case.