x/Himanta Biswa Sarma
Champai Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a respected leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is scheduled to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on August 30. Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand, confirmed the news in a late-night post on X, praising Soren as a “distinguished Adivasi leader.”
The 67-year-old leader, who stepped down from his role as Chief Minister earlier this year to make way for Hemant Soren, has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the JMM leadership. He recently expressed that he could have achieved more for the state’s development if given more time.
A New Chapter in Politics
Known affectionately as the “Jharkhand Tiger” for his pivotal role in the statehood movement of the 1990s, Soren has emphasized that his political journey is far from over. While speculation about his next move has been rampant, Soren hinted that forming a new political outfit was always an option, though he chose to remain tight-lipped until recently.
Two weeks ago, Soren dismissed the swirling rumors of his political switch, stating, “I am where I am.” However, his visit to Delhi for what he described as “personal work” only fueled speculation.
The Final Decision
Despite the uncertainty, the BJP has been optimistic about Soren’s potential alignment with their party. Earlier today, Sarma, in his role as the BJP’s election strategist for Jharkhand, expressed his desire to see Soren join the party and strengthen their ranks.
Hours after this statement, Sarma shared a photograph of Soren meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, officially announcing that Soren would join the BJP on August 30 in Ranchi.
This move marks a significant shift in Jharkhand’s political landscape, as Soren transitions from his long-standing association with the JMM to embrace a new chapter with the Bhartiya Janta Party.
