Ranchi (Jharkhand): Ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections later this year, the ruling JMM is likely to face a major blow as its veteran leader and former Chief Minister Champai Soren is likely to join the BJP.
Currently a minister in Chief Minister Hemant Soren's cabinet, Champai Soren, who was angry with the 'disrespect' he faced in the party, finally spoke out his heart.
जोहार साथियों,
— Champai Soren (@ChampaiSoren) August 18, 2024
आज समाचार देखने के बाद, आप सभी के मन में कई सवाल उमड़ रहे होंगे। आखिर ऐसा क्या हुआ, जिसने कोल्हान के एक छोटे से गांव में रहने वाले एक गरीब किसान के बेटे को इस मोड़ पर लाकर खड़ा कर दिया।
अपने सार्वजनिक जीवन की शुरुआत में औद्योगिक घरानों के खिलाफ मजदूरों की आवाज…
As soon as he reached Delhi, he shared an emotional post on X amid speculations of joining the BJP. The six-time MLA from Saraikela, Champai Soren said that he suffered a blow to his self-respect and felt emotional due to the insulting behaviour (in JMM).
"I was trying to control my tears, but they were only interested in the chair. I felt as if I had no existence in that party. From that day till today, and till the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, all options are open for me in this journey," he said.
Champai said, "The day after Hul Diwas, I came to know that all my programs for the next two days had been postponed by the party leadership. One of these was a public program in Dumka, while the other was to distribute appointment letters to PGT teachers. On asking, I came to know that a meeting of the legislative party has been called by the coalition on July 3, till then you cannot attend any program as CM. Can there be anything more humiliating in a democracy than a Chief Minister's programs being cancelled by another person?"
Champai said that although the Chief Minister had the right to call a meeting of the legislative party, he was not even told the agenda of the meeting. "I was emotional due to the insulting behaviour for the last three days and was trying to control my tears, but they were only interested in the chair. I felt as if I had no existence in that party, no existence at all, for which I had dedicated my entire life," he said.
"With a heavy heart, I said in the same meeting of the legislative party that - "A new chapter of my life is going to start from today." I had three options in this. First, to retire from politics, second, to form my own separate organization and third, if I find a companion on this path, then to travel further with that companion," Champai said.
The former CM asserted that from raising the voice of workers against industrial houses to the Jharkhand movement, he had always done politics of public concern. "I have been fighting for the rights of the tribals, natives, poor, laborers, students and backward class people of the state. Whether I held any post or not, I was always available to the public, raising the issues of those people who had dreamt of a better future with the state of Jharkhand," he said.
Giving details of his journey, Champai Soren said, "On January 31, after an unprecedented turn of events, the India Alliance chose me to serve the state as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand. From the first day of my tenure to the last day (July 3), I discharged my duties towards the state with full devotion and dedication. During this time, we took many decisions in public interest and, as always, was always available to everyone. The people of the state will evaluate the decisions we took keeping in mind the elders, women, youth, students and every section of the society and every person of the state."
Meanwhile, sources said Champai Soren left for the national capital this morning where he is likely to meet Home Minister Amit Shah. Apart from Soren, former MLA Lobin Hembrom, expelled from JMM, will also join BJP. There are speculations that some more MLAs from JMM are joining the saffron party.
Upon reaching Delhi, Champai Soren told reporters that he had come to the national capital to "meet his daughter". "I have come here for my personal work. My daughter lives here," he said. Asked about speculations of him joining the BJP, Soren said, "Abhi Hum Jahan Par Hain, Wahin Par Hain (I am where I am)."
On Saturday as well, Soren had rejected the speculations but his Delhi visit gives credence to the rumours. “I don’t know anything about such speculations and reports... I am where I am...” he had told reporters in Ranchi a day ago.
Soren also said that his meeting with Lobin Hembrom, who is reportedly in touch with BJP leaders, was a routine affair. "He (Hembrom) met me, but we had routine discussions," he said. Hembrom was recently disqualified as a JMM MLA under the anti-defection law.
Sources said that Champai Soren was unhappy with the way he was made to quit in a few months and make way again for JMM executive president Hemant Soren upon the latter release on bail in June this year. The senior Soren, sources said, had expected that he would be allowed to carry on as Chief Minister till the Assembly Elections.
Amid rumours of his joining the BJP, Champai Soren has changed the bio of his X account. Soren has removed JMM from his bio and now his bio reads as "Former Chief Minister, Jharkhand."
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the election co-incharge from the BJP, refused to give a firm indication on the speculations. "Champai Soren is not in touch with me, nor is he in touch with the party. I do not want to make comments about him," Sarma told the reporters.
The Assam CM further said, "If any work was done in the five years of JMM-Congress in Jharkhand, it was done only during the six months of Champai Soren's tenure. Now Champai ji's photo has disappeared from every advertisement."
Champai Soren had taken oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand at the Raj Bhavan on February 2 this year after the arrest of JMM executive president Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. He then resigned from the post on July 3, a day before Hemant took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on July 4.
In 2019, JMM fought the Assembly elections in alliance with the Congress and Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and got a comfortable majority with 47 seats in the 81-member House.
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