Ranchi: In a surprising political move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has omitted former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren from the poster for their Parivartan Yatra, which aims to challenge the current Hemant Soren-led government in the upcoming state assembly elections. Champai, who recently joined the BJP after years with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was expected to play a key role in the BJP’s campaign in the Kolhan region. However, his absence from the party’s campaign material has sparked widespread speculation about his political future.
The Parivartan Yatra—an electoral march intended to galvanise opposition to Chief Minister Hemant Soren—is currently moving through 200 blocks in Jharkhand. The poster released for the Yatra prominently features five leaders: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President JP Nadda, Jharkhand State President Babulal Marandi, former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, and Leader of the Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri. Champai Soren’s omission from this list has raised questions about his standing within the party.
Champai, a tribal leader and former JMM stalwart, played a key role in Prime Minister Modi’s rally in Jamshedpur just 20 days ago. His defection to the BJP was seen as a significant boost for the party’s chances in the Kolhan and Santhal Parganas regions, where the BJP is hoping to win over tribal voters. Champai was even spotlighted during Modi’s speech, but his exclusion from the poster has thrown his political position into doubt.
Local BJP leaders have maintained silence regarding the reasons for Champai’s absence from the poster. Political observers are interpreting this as a message from the party that Babulal Marandi will lead the campaign in Jharkhand. Marandi, the state’s first chief minister, has been at the forefront of the Parivartan Yatra and is expected to be a key player in the election, though the BJP has yet to officially declare its chief ministerial candidate.
Champai Soren’s omission has also sparked speculation that he could be offered a future role outside of Jharkhand. Rumours have circulated in political circles that if Champai performs well, he may be given a responsibility at the national level within the BJP. His recent defection from the JMM to the BJP followed a dramatic period in Jharkhand politics. Champai briefly served as the state’s chief minister in February 2024 when Hemant Soren was in custody over a land scam case. However, once Hemant was released, he quickly reclaimed his position, leading to Champai’s move to the BJP.
A long-time leader in the JMM, Champai Soren was a key figure in the Jharkhand movement and has been elected as an MLA from Seraikela five times. Known as the ‘Tiger of Kolhan’, Champai was responsible for overseeing JMM’s influence in the Kolhan region, which holds 14 assembly seats. In the 2019 elections, JMM and Congress won 13 out of these 14 seats, making it a crucial battleground for both parties.
With the assembly elections just two months away, the political meaning behind Champai’s disappearance from BJP campaign materials is being closely analysed. For now, the party appears focused on projecting Babulal Marandi as their key leader in Jharkhand, but the future role of Champai Soren remains unclear.
As the Parivartan Yatra continues, all eyes are on how this latest political twist will impact BJP’s strategy in the upcoming elections.