Rajya Sabha MP and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch Shibu Soren returned to Ranchi on Thursday after recovering from Covid-19 at a private hospital in Gurugram and taking oath as a Rajya Sabha member three days ago.

Chief minister Hemant Soren received him personally at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda International Airport in the afternoon around 1.30pm.

Clad in white-kurta pyjama, face covered with a mask and wearing sports shoes. Soren looked comfortable as he walked out of the airport along with Hemant, who drove his own car to the airport to receive his father.

While both Soren Senior and Junior did not speak to the media, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharjee said that Guruji would continue to be under medical observation.

“Everyone is happy with Guruji’s return after defeating Covid-19. He will rest for a few days and will be under medical observation. His return will be a great asset for the party ahead of the crucial Bihar polls and upcoming byelections in on two seats of Jharkhand,” he said.

Notably, the state government’s Covid rules also prescribe 14-day mandatory home quarantine for anyone returning/coming from outside Jharkhand. Shibu Soren along with his wife Rupi Soren had tested positive for Covid-19 in the third week of August.

After staying in home isolation for the first few days, Soren was shifted to Medanta Hospital in Ranchi owing to breathing problems. On August 25, he was admitted to Medanta in Gurugram after being referred from here. On September 6, he was finally declared Covid free after which he stayed put in Delhi in the official residence of Rajmahal MP Vijay Hansdak.

On September 14, Soren finally took oath as Rajya Sabha member, almost three months after he won the election held on June 19.