‘Nurtured JMM With Blood, Was Humiliated, Insulted In Return’: Champai Soren Joins BJP Ahead Of Jharkhand Polls
Former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren joined the BJP on Friday, two days after quitting the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) while claiming that the state’s ruling party had “lost direction” and its current policies and style of functioning are a stark contrast to the principles upon which the party was founded.
Soren, along with a large number of his supporters, officially joined the saffron party at a grand ceremony in Jharkhand capital Ranchi which was attended by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“My resolve to join the BJP strengthened after I was put under surveillance by the Jharkhand government in Delhi and Kolkata,” the former JMM leader said after joining the saffron fold, while also asserting that the BJP can save the tribals’ identity and check infiltration in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana.
Soren also alleged that the Congress has put the tribal identity “at stake” and reiterated his commitment to “delivering justice to the people”.
Opening up about his move to the resign from JMM, a decision which startled many, Champai Soren claimed that his former party, which he “nurtured with sweat and blood”, humiliated and insulted him, which “compelled” him to join the BJP.
“I nurtured JMM with my sweat and blood but was humiliated and insulted. I am compelled to join the BJP. I am now proud to be a member of the world’s largest political party. I was not in a position to tolerate humiliation and snooping,” Soren claimed.
Champai Soren was considered a close aide of JMM supremo Shibu Soren and his inclusion into the BJP fold is expected to provide a significant boost to the saffron party in the upcoming Jharkhand state polls and also augment its efforts to strengthen its connection with the Scheduled Tribes, a strong support base of the JMM.
‘JMM like family, never imagined…’
On Wednesday, Champai wrote a letter to JMM supremo Shibu Soren, claiming he was “compelled” to quit after being “aggrieved by the present style of functioning of the JMM and its policies”.
“I have never imagined that I would quit JMM, a party which is like a family to me… The turn of events of the past forced me to make this decision with much pain…I am pained to say that the party has deviated from its principle,” he said in the letter.
Champai Soren had previously met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to announce his decision to join the BJP.
On Tuesday, Champai had asserted that he would be switching sides to save tribal identity and existence, which is “at stake in the state’s Santhal Pargana due to “rampant” infiltration from Bangladesh”.
These intruders are causing economic and social harm to the local people, and if they are not stopped, the existence of “our society in Santhal Pargana will be in danger”, he had claimed.
In many areas, including Pakur and Rajmahal, the number of infiltrators has become more than that of tribals, Champai alleged.
Who is Champai Soren?
Popularly known as ‘Jharkhand’s Tiger’ for his pivotal role in the fight for statehood, Champai Soren was born November 11, 1956, in Jilingora village in the state’s Seraikela-Kharsawan district.
Soren, 67, began his political career by winning a by-election to the Saraikela seat as an Independent MLA in 1991. Four years later, he contested and won the seat again in 1995 on a JMM ticket and defeated BJP’s Panchu Tudu.
Earlier this year, Champai Soren was appointed as chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2, following the resignation and subsequent arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case.
However, on July 3 last month, Champai vacated the post, making way for Hemant Soren to resume office on July 4 after being granted bail.
(With PTI inputs)
