Champai Soren, a veteran leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, August 30th, according to an announcement made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In a late-night post on X (formerly Twitter), Sarma praised Soren as a “distinguished Adivasi leader of the country.”
The 67-year-old leader, who recently resigned as Chief Minister to allow Hemant Soren to assume the role, has expressed discontent with the JMM leadership, accusing them of disrespecting him. Following his resignation, Soren hinted at his dissatisfaction and stated that he could have achieved more for the state if given more time in office. Despite stepping down, Soren, who played a significant role in the movement to create Jharkhand as a separate state in the 1990s, insisted that he would not retire from politics and even considered forming a new political party.
Rumors about Soren’s potential switch to the BJP have been circulating for weeks, particularly after his visit to Delhi, which he claimed was for personal reasons. However, these speculations were fueled further by the BJP’s acknowledgment of his leadership and contributions to Jharkhand.
Earlier today, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is overseeing the BJP’s election efforts in Jharkhand, expressed his desire for Soren to join the party. The deal was finalized shortly thereafter, with Sarma sharing a photo of Champai Soren meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Sarma announced that Soren would officially join the BJP on August 30th in Ranchi.
Champai Soren served as Jharkhand’s 12th Chief Minister, taking office on February 2, 2024, and resigning on July 3, 2024, just before Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister on July 4, 2024.