In a significant political development, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on August 30, according to an announcement made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Sarma, who is also the BJP’s co-incharge for the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news, along with a picture of Soren meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi.
Soren, a veteran leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), has recently expressed dissatisfaction with his party, accusing the leadership of disrespecting him. Despite having denied rumors of joining the BJP as recently as August 18, Soren’s decision to switch sides comes just weeks after stepping down as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister. His resignation followed the release of Hemant Soren on bail in a land scam case, which led to Hemant Soren’s swearing-in as Chief Minister on July 4.
Champai Soren, often referred to as the “Jharkhand Tiger” for his pivotal role in the state’s creation movement in the 1990s, has been a key figure in Jharkhand’s political landscape. His move to the BJP is seen as a strategic step by the party in preparation for the upcoming state elections. Despite earlier denials, his upcoming induction into the BJP marks a notable shift in Jharkhand’s political dynamics.