Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, former Chief Minister Champai Soren has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move comes as a major boost for the saffron party, which is aiming to strengthen its influence in the state’s tribal belt.
Champai Soren, along with a large number of his supporters, formally joined the BJP on Friday in Ranchi. The induction ceremony was attended by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Expressing his reasons for joining the BJP, Soren stated, “I was embarrassed and had considered retiring from politics. However, the love and support of the people of Jharkhand convinced me to continue my political journey. I have witnessed the struggle during the ‘Jharkhand andolan’ and felt it was my duty to keep serving the people.”
He further explained, “I contemplated launching a new party or joining another, but I couldn’t remain in an organization where I felt humiliated. Ultimately, I chose to join the BJP to continue serving Jharkhand.”
Champai Soren, once a close confidant of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren, resigned from his previous party just days before joining the BJP. In his resignation letter to Shibu Soren, the 67-year-old leader expressed his deep disappointment, stating, “I never imagined I would leave JMM, a party that felt like family to me. But recent events forced me to make this painful decision.”
Champai Soren’s move to the BJP is seen as a strategic advantage for the party, which is striving to gain ground in Jharkhand’s tribal regions, where Scheduled Tribes constitute about 26% of the electorate.
Champai Soren briefly served as the Chief Minister in the absence of Hemant Soren, who had to step down ahead of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31. Champai Soren held the position until Hemant Soren was granted bail on June 28, after which he stepped down to allow the JMM working president to resume office.
Reflecting on his departure from JMM, Champai Soren said, “After enduring so much humiliation, I was compelled to seek an alternative path. There’s nothing more degrading in a democracy than having a Chief Minister’s program canceled by another person. During a legislative party meeting on July 3, I was asked to resign.”
He added, “It became clear that all Hemant Soren cared about was holding onto power. I felt as though I no longer had a place in the party I had dedicated my entire life to.”
