Ranchi, August 31: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, accusing the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government of spying on him. Soren, who left the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) earlier this week, was welcomed into the BJP by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a ceremony in Ranchi.
Soren, who has long been a prominent tribal leader and close associate of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, cited surveillance as a key reason for his departure from the party. “I had never imagined that I was being tracked and followed by the special branch for espionage. It is really a matter of investigation. My decision to join BJP grew firm after I came to know that my movements were being tracked,” he told reporters after his induction into the BJP.
The former chief minister, who briefly held the top post earlier this year, also expressed dissatisfaction with the JMM’s treatment of him. He said he felt “insulted” by his removal as chief minister, which cleared the way for Hemant Soren to return to power after being released on bail in a money laundering case.
“After considering all the situations, I decided to join the BJP. Only the BJP can guide the tribals towards a brighter future. That’s why I have joined BJP with an open heart. We will build a new Jharkhand by staying here with the BJP,” he added.
Champai Soren’s move to the BJP is expected to have significant political implications, particularly in the Kolhan region, a key tribal stronghold where the JMM has traditionally dominated. His defection is seen as a strategic boost for the BJP as it looks to expand its influence among the Scheduled Tribes (STs) ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has been overseeing the BJP’s election campaign in Jharkhand, criticized the JMM government’s actions. “The people would give a befitting reply in the upcoming polls due in the state later this year,” Sarma said, referring to the surveillance allegations.
Meanwhile, in a move seen as damage control, the JMM replaced Champai Soren in the state cabinet with Ramdas Soren, a party MLA from Ghatshila and another key tribal leader. Ramdas Soren was given the same portfolio as Champai (Water Resources and Higher and Technical Education) and was sworn in by Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Friday morning.
