Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam chief minister and co-in charge of BJP’s Jharkhand assembly election campaign, said Champai Soren will join BJP on August 30. Champa Soren, a former state chief minister who was reportedly asked to resign after Hemant Soren got bail in a money laundering case, was one of the senior most leaders of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and was in the forefront of struggles for the state formation.
The development is happening after Champai Soren met with union home minister Amit Shah.
“Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, @ChampaiSoren Ji met Hon’ble Union Home Minister @AmitShah Ji a short while ago. He will officially join the @BJP4India on 30th August in Ranchi,” Sarma wrote in a tweet.
Earlier, Soren wrote an open letter criticising the party leadership signals his departure from the party. There is a buzz that he is going to float his own party soon. In an C post, on his political future, Soren outlined three possibilities: retiring from politics, forming his own party, or aligning with a new political ally.
“It is a new chapter of my life. I won’t quit politics as I have received lots of love and support from my followers. The chapter has closed, I may form a new outfit,” Champai Soren said shortly after reaching his ancestral village Jhilingora in Seraikela-Kharsawan district on Tuesday.
“I’ll strengthen the new organisation and if I find a good friend in the way, I’ll move ahead with that friendship to serve the people and state… Everything will become clear in a week,” he added, per NDTV.
Recently, Soren expressed dissatisfaction with his treatment during his tenure as the Jharkhand CM. Soren took office in February following the arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
Champai Soren’s brief term as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand ended in July, allowing Hemant Soren to return to his role.
Soren spoke about the “bitter humiliation” he faced and how his authority was undermined, with decisions being made without his consultation, including the cancellation of important government programs and meetings. He recounted being unexpectedly asked to resign during a legislative party meeting on July 3. Although caught off guard, Soren complied immediately, but described the experience as extremely humiliating.
In a social media post, Soren traced his long political journey from his activism for workers’ rights and involvement in the Jharkhand movement. Yet, recent developments have caused him to question his future with the JMM, a party he has dedicated decades to.
“No one from JMM contacted me. This is the land of Jharkhand…I have struggled since my student life. I participated in the agitation for a separate Jharkhand state under the leadership of party supremo Shibu Soren,” Champai Soren said.
Soren alleged that he was barred from convening legislative party meetings and that even routine government functions.
