Champai Soren Joins BJP in Presence of Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Senior leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Champai Soren, has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (August 30). The event took place at Shaheed Maidan in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, in the presence of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Jharkhand BJP organization in-charge Laxmikant Vajpayee, BJP state president Babulal Marandi, former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, and many senior leaders of the party were also present at the induction program.
This decision by Champai Soren is expected to bring a significant shift in Jharkhand’s political landscape. Champai Soren is considered a close relative of Shibu Soren, the father of current Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Champai Soren was actively involved in the movement to separate Jharkhand from Bihar. While Hemant Soren was in jail, Champai Soren held the position of Chief Minister of Jharkhand. However, after Hemant Soren was released from jail, Champai Soren had to resign from the post of Chief Minister.
Champai Soren’s joining BJP has strengthened the party in the state. He played a key role alongside Shibu Soren in the Jharkhand movement and has maintained significant influence in most of the Legislative Assembly seats in the state. Champai Soren has a stronghold in the Kolhan region and is known as the “Tiger of Kolhan” in the state. Out of 81 Legislative Assembly seats in Jharkhand, 28 are reserved for the tribal community, where BJP’s presence has been weaker. Champai Soren’s entry into BJP is expected to boost the party’s strength in these seats, increasing the challenges faced by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress in the state.
BJP’s Masterstroke Ahead of Assembly Elections?
Elections are set to take place in three states in the next few months. Assembly elections will first be held in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir in September and October. Following that, elections will take place in Jharkhand and Maharashtra by the end of the year. The BJP had limited success in these states during the Lok Sabha elections, and the party will be aiming for a stronger performance in the upcoming assembly elections. BJP has focused on the assembly elections in these four states.
