National Desk, August 30, 2024 — In a significant political shift, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and ex-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The 67-year-old tribal leader was welcomed into the saffron fold during an event in Ranchi on Friday, attended by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and other prominent BJP leaders.
Expressing his disillusionment with his former party, Soren criticized the Congress, accusing it of compromising tribal identity. He revealed that he had contemplated retiring from politics due to the embarrassment he faced within his former party. However, buoyed by the support of the people of Jharkhand, he decided to continue his political journey with the BJP.
“I was embarrassed, and that’s why I had decided to retire. However, because of the love and support of the people of Jharkhand, I decided not to retire from politics,” Soren stated. He further added, “I have seen the struggle during the Jharkhand andolan. I thought that I would launch a new party or join another, but I would never stay in an organization where I was embarrassed. I chose to join the BJP to continue serving the people of Jharkhand.”
Welcoming Soren to the BJP, Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauded him as the “Tiger of Jharkhand,” a leader who played a crucial role in the creation of the state and has dedicated his life to public service. “Champai Soren worked very hard for the creation of Jharkhand. He has joined the BJP to remove the corrupt state government from power. We welcome him. ‘Tiger abhi zinda hai’. He is the Tiger of Jharkhand, and we will form the government in Jharkhand,” Chouhan declared.
Soren’s entry into the BJP is expected to bolster the party’s influence in Jharkhand, particularly among tribal communities, as the state heads towards its next assembly elections.
Read More: Sikkim Government Appoints Block Development Officers as Executive Magistrates