Ranchi: In a sensational twist that could redraw Jharkhand’s political map, senior BJP leaders on Wednesday claimed that Chief Minister Hemant Soren has expressed willingness to sever ties with the INDIA bloc and align with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2029 assembly polls.
Speaking to reporters, state BJP president Babulal Marandi and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri alleged that back-channel talks between Soren and top NDA functionaries have been underway for weeks. “Hemant ji is fed up with Congress’ interference and the corruption cases hanging over his family. He has conveyed through trusted intermediaries that he is ready to join the NDA fold if given a respectable position,” Marandi declared.
The claims come barely a year after JMM’s thumping victory in the 2024 assembly elections, where the Hemant-led alliance trounced the BJP-led NDA. Sources within the BJP say the party is eyeing a “Ghar Wapsi” for Soren, similar to Nitish Kumar’s flip-flops in Bihar, to weaken the Opposition ahead of the 2029 battle and neutralise the Congress-JMM combine.
JMM has blasted the allegations as “daydreaming”. Party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya retorted, “This is BJP’s frustration speaking. Hemant Soren is firmly with the INDIA bloc and committed to tribal welfare, not power games.”
Ranchi’s political circles are a flurry of speculation. As central agencies tighten their grip on multiple land-scam and money-laundering cases against the Soren family, many wonder if the Chief Minister is indeed seeking a safer haven under Modi’s leadership.
One thing is clear: Jharkhand’s winter session is about to intensify significantly.