Jharkhand’s Ex-CM Champai Soren Rumored to Quit JMM to Join BJP, Flies to Delhi

Ranchi: Ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections, former Chief Minister and senior JMM leader has reached Delhi amid speculations that he may join the BJP.

Champai Soren alleged that he was “humiliated” by the JMM. According to him, he was left with three options: retire, start a new party, or join another party.

Tension simmered in both the Hemant and Champai camps since July 3, when Champai relinquished the Chief Minister’s seat for Hemant Soren to take charge again.

As per reports, Soren has clearly hinted at quitting the JMM. His quitting JMM is unlikely to impact JMM-led government’s stability in Jharkhand unless a large number of MLAs leave the party with him.

In Jharkhand, eight seats are vacant in the 81-seat assembly. The majority threshold is 37 seats.The JMM holds 26 seats, the Congress has 16, and the RJD has one. CPI(ML) MLA Vinod Singh is also part of the ruling alliance.

On the other hand, the BJP holds 23 seats, AJSU has 3, NCP has 1, and two Independents are aligned with the NDA.

Amid speculation that Champai Soren could join BJP, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday accused the BJP of “poaching” MLAs and “dividing society.”

Claims are also being made that Champai Soren is in contact with Himanta Biswa Sarma and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who are in charge of the BJP’s election preparations in Jharkhand. But no BJP leader has come up with any statement on the matter.