BJP is adopting a wait-and-watch strategy given the ongoing drama within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Meanwhile, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and senior JMM leader Champai Soren is camping in Delhi and is alleging that he has been humiliated in the party, which has fueled speculation about his joining the BJP. BJP sources said that Champai Soren has contacted them. This is happening when elections for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly are scheduled to be held in November-December this year.
Champai reached Delhi on Sunday and since then speculations about his joining the BJP have been rife. However, some of his aides claimed that he is also going for some medical checkups and will stay with his daughter in Delhi. Champai himself had said that he was still where he was.
Is this BJP’s plan for Champai?
After this, Soren himself said in a post on Instagram that everything was not fine and he was humiliated in the party; he said that now he has three options. “First, to retire from politics, second, to form my separate organization, and third, if I find a partner on this path, then to travel further with him. From that day till today, and till the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, all options are open for me in this journey.”
BJP sources said the party is keen to accommodate him in a senior post, possibly as governor of a state. But, the bigger advantage for the BJP would be if Soren follows the path of Jitan Manjhi and forms a new tribal political outfit. A senior general secretary of the party said the BJP is keen to win a big chunk of the tribal votes in the state, which it has been eyeing for a long time. Sources said Soren wants to take the next step with some loyal MLAs.
Jitan Ram Manjhi said- welcome
In response to Soren’s post, Hindustani Awam Morcha leader and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi called Champai a ‘tiger’ and welcomed him to the ‘NDA family’. Jitan Ram Manjhi wrote in his ex-post, “Champai da, you were a tiger, you are a tiger and will remain a tiger. Welcome to the NDA family, Johar Tiger.”
Champai is angry because of this
Soren, who was made the Chief Minister when the current CM Hemant Soren was sent to jail, was unhappy that he was removed from the post after Hemant’s return. Champai, a long-time associate of JMM founder and Hemant’s father Shibu Soren, is unhappy with the ever-growing stature of Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren in politics.
Congress on alert in Jharkhand due to Champai’s displeasure
On the other hand, the Congress in Jharkhand is on high alert after Champai Soren rebelled against his party and its leadership. Launching a counter-attack against Champai on Monday over his claims of being ‘humiliated’ and ‘forced to resign’ as CM last month, Congress sources revealed that it has been proactive and vigilant in keeping an eye on its MLAs amid the recent political developments.
The state president met Kharge-Rahul
Newly appointed Jharkhand Congress state president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh has met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to apprise them of the current situation. “This was my courtesy meeting with our leadership after being given the new responsibility. We had a detailed discussion with our top leadership about the upcoming elections given organizational work and the latest crisis within our ally JMM,” Kamlesh told TOI.