Champai Soren, former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, arrived in Delhi on Sunday, stirring speculation about a possible shift to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His sudden visit has fueled rumors of a defection from Hemant Soren’s JMM.
Soren’s unannounced trip to the capital has led to fresh discussions about his political future. When asked by reporters about joining the BJP, Soren responded, “I am here for some personal work.” This vague explanation has done little to quell the speculation.
Despite these denials, Soren’s activities have only intensified the rumors. He also removed JMM from his Twitter bio on Sunday, which further fueled the speculation.
Additionally, reports emerged that an aide of Hemant Soren met with Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata on Saturday. This meeting adds another layer to the swirling rumors.
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On Sunday, Soren made an unexpected visit to Delhi, accompanied by four other JMM leaders. When asked about his potential defection, he dismissed the rumors, saying, “I am where I am. I can’t say about speculations and reports.”
Those close to Soren believe he was unfairly treated after Hemant Soren was released from jail. They argue that his removal from the CM’s position was both insulting and disparaging to him and his supporters. “Champai Soren is a true leader for the tribals,” they said. “The party should have chosen him to lead in the upcoming elections.”
Soren became Jharkhand CM in February, following Hemant Soren’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. However, after Hemant Soren secured bail, Champai Soren had to step down.
The BJP is gearing up for the Jharkhand Assembly elections later this year. Recently, prominent BJP leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, visited Jharkhand for consultations with local units.
When asked about Champai Soren’s potential switch, Sarma remarked, “I am also hearing these reports. He is a very senior leader, and I prefer not to comment informally about him.”
