Shibu Soren’s house gets a fresh coat of paint. Picture by Pankaj Singh

Bokaro, Aug. 22: There’s frenetic activity at Sector IC — women are flaunting their sartorial best, servants are running errands, workers are giving house No. 13 a fresh coat of paint and children are celebrating an early Diwali. And this is just a trailer to the grand welcome being planned for Shibu Soren.

At the helm of affairs on the home front are five leading ladies — Soren’s eldest daughter Anjali, daughters-in-law Sita, Kalpana and Hemlata, and his sister-in-law Saraswati.

Anjali, better known as Didiji, seemed to be the busiest of them all. Draped in a green zardosi — green is Guruji’s favourite colour — she walked up and down the aisle giving orders. There was a satisfying swish in her gait.

“Baba (Soren) should have become the chief minister of Jharkhand long time ago,” she said with a grin before gesturing at a couple of servants to hurry up. And hurry they must. For, everything needs to be completed by Monday.

“We were expecting Baba to become the chief minister in the month of Sawan. He is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. The UPA government at the Centre won the no-confidence motion because of JMM support. We are waiting for the auspicious hour when Baba will take the oath. If my sources are correct, the good news will reach us within 96 hours,” she said.

The women of the house have planned to organise a puja. Soren’s wife, Rupi, will fast on that day. She will pray for her husband’s long life and good fortune.

Besides her father, Anjali was also all praises for UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for “making things go in the right direction”. She said Sonia’s move would help her win a huge support base in Jharkhand. “People are dying to see their revered Guruji become the chief minister,” Anjali said, signalling a group of men to add finishing touches to the windows, all of which have been painted green.

The house is getting a fresh coat of paint under the able guidance of Shambhu, the loyal caretaker, who has been associated with the Sorens for as long as he can remember. The man in his late forties was seen going on a colour drive. He was directing the workers to paint the portico, the verandah and the benches on the sprawling lawn green.

Shambhu’s two trusted sub-ordinates — Anil and Mahto — were given the onus of putting the house in order, which they did with alacrity.

Though Guruji’s three sons — Durga, Hemant and Basant — and brother Lalu live elsewhere, their wives were making frequent trips to Sector IC. They were helping Anjali and Rupi decorate the house and make arrangements for the puja. Soren’s grandchildren made the most of the occasion. Flaunting psychedelic shirts and skirts, they took a welcome break from studies and played all day long.