Ranchi: In a significant political development ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly elections, former Chief Minister and senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Soren’s move comes after he resigned from the JMM earlier this week, citing “bitter humiliation” and dissatisfaction with the party’s current direction.
Champai Soren, often referred to as the “Kolhan Tiger” for his pivotal role in the movement to create Jharkhand, was welcomed into the BJP by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a function on Friday. Chouhan praised Soren, saying, “He is truly Jharkhand’s tiger, a leader forged in the furnace of the movement who helped build the JMM. People respect him, and he has come to the BJP to save Jharkhand.”
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also criticised the treatment Soren received during his tenure as Chief Minister, condemning the fact that he was allegedly not allowed to distribute appointment letters—a symbolic gesture that Soren was reportedly denied by his own party. Chouhan stated, “JMM has now become a party of husband and wife. The coalition government is certain to go, and the BJP will now form the government.”
Champai Soren’s defection is seen as a major setback for the JMM, a party he helped build alongside its supremo, Shibu Soren. Champai Soren’s discontent with the JMM leadership and his determination to fight corruption have been cited as key reasons for his departure. According to Chouhan, Soren had fought hard for Jharkhand’s creation and was instrumental in its establishment by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, Soren felt increasingly sidelined and humiliated within the JMM, which eventually led to his decision to switch parties.
In his speech, Chouhan vowed that the BJP, along with Soren, would ensure that no further insults are inflicted upon Jharkhand and its people. He also criticised the current JMM-Congress coalition government led by Hemant Soren, accusing it of failing to deliver on its promises and engaging in corrupt practices. Chouhan confidently declared that the BJP would uproot the “corrupt” JMM-led government and form the next government in Jharkhand after the upcoming elections.
As the election date draws closer, Champai Soren’s move to the BJP is expected to influence the political dynamics in Jharkhand, setting the stage for a closely contested battle.
Comments are closed.