Amidst speculations that he might join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), this week former chief minister champai soren, a senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader arrived at Delhi which has put Hemant Soren lead administration in Jharkhand into sort of crisis.
In a subsequent statement, Champai Soren revealed that after being “humiliated” by JMM, he had three options; retire, form a new party or join an existing one. In response to these statements made by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who accused the BJP of “poaching” MLAs and “dividing” communities.
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Former chief minister champai soren.
Amidst speculations that he might join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), this week former chief minister Champai Soren, a senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader arrived at Delhi which has put Hemant Soren lead administration in Jharkhand into sort of crisis.
Speaking afterwards, Champai shared that there were three things he could do after being ‘insulted’ by his own party – retire, form a new political party or join another existing one. The next day, Chief Minister Hemant condemned these remarks and claimed that BJP had been luring away their MLAs and inciting divisions within society.
For the ruling coalition to contest anti-incumbency sentiment state-wide elections are obligatory. In 2019,the 81 member assembly saw JMM get 30 seats while Congress got 16 seats and BJP emerged with 25 seats. Finally after JMM,Congress and RJD formed an alliance against it Raghubar Das led BJP government was ousted with Hemant sworn as head of government on January 29, 2020.
Worry following Hemant’s comeback as the CM
There has been tension in JMM between the Hemant and Champai factions relating to the leadership change on July 3. One day before Hemant Soren was sworn in again as chief minister on July 4th, his party’s executive president Champai had to resign. On June 28, Hemant Soren was allowed to leave jail after the high court granted him bail in relation to a money-laundering case.
champai soren has served as chief minister since Hemant’s arrest on February 2.
Notwithstanding that it won only one Lok Sabha seat during the general election of 2019; yet, it performed very well in assembly polls, which led to the overthrow of BJP government under Raghubar Das.
In addition to winning eight seats during Lok Sabha elections held in 2024, JMM’s representation increased from one member in 2019 up to three seats by that time. The JMM ally Congress bagged two seats while BJP ally AJSU got one Lok Sabha seat during general elections of 2024.
Implications if Champai left
Sorens exit would not have much effect on the administration of Hemant Soren unless he brings along with him other MLAs.
While there are now a total of seventy-three members in Jharkhand assembly with eight vacant seats. Out of these twenty-six belong to JMM, sixteen for Congress and RJD has one. In ruling coalition we have an MLA from CPI(ML) comrade Vinod Singh.The majority of seventy-three would be fourty-four.
The opposition holds twenty-three seats with BJP leading while AJSU being its closest ally is represented by three seats. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is supported by two Independents whereas NCP controls one seat.
Clearly, Hemant Soren’s government is not in immediate danger as a result of Champai joining the BJP.
champai soren tribal Card.
Champai is a card tribal leader. According to The BJP, even tribal leaders are being treated with disdain in Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Such an issue may be a part of BJP’s campaign strategy during forthcoming elections.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls for five Lok Sabha constituencies reserved for the state STs, which was under arrest Hemant Soren, the party suffered a setback. The party also lost 26 out 28 seats that it had won earlier from its stronghold in the tribal areas in the state assembly elections conducted in 2019.
Currently, Champai has the support of NDA and BJD allies. India Today quoted Shahdeo as saying that after Chamapai tweeted on August 18th, through championing his post- “We certainly do not accept any parivaarvad or dictatorship here,” he continued. A statement by Shahdev clarified that this means “The JMM won’t support any other non-Soren Chief.”
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manzi who championed Champai Soren into the NDA family made him feel welcome. Manjhi said “Johar Tiger” and added “Champari da you have been a tiger always and will always be so” (X).
JMM contacts with champai soren
There are claims that JMM reached out to calm down Champari Soren when he went ballistic. Prior becoming chief minister, he served as cabinet minister for transport & scheduled tribes , scheduled castes and backward class welfare department from 2019 to till elevation as CM in second ministry of Hemant Soren.
He is known as ‘’Jharkhand ka Bagh’’ –the tiger of jharkhand among others; Champa Soren is a MLA from Seraikella in 1990s who actively participated in the freedom struggle of Jharkhand.
Another account suggests that Champari Soren was unhappy when his party refused to field his son for the 2018 Jharkhand Assembly polls from the Ghatshila seat.
