Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and senior leader Champai Soren resigned from all posts and the primary membership of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Wednesday. Soren announced his decision through a post on X, where he confirmed his departure from the party and emphasized his commitment to continuing the struggle for the rights of various marginalized communities in Jharkhand.
“Today I resigned from the primary membership and all posts of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Our struggle will continue on the issues of tribals, natives, Dalits, backward people, and common people of Jharkhand,” Soren stated, sharing his resignation letter with his followers.
The resignation comes a day after Soren publicly declared his intent to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), expressing his confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Soren called for cooperation in what he described as a new chapter in his political journey, focused on the rights and issues affecting Jharkhand’s marginalized communities.
“Your cooperation is expected in this new chapter of the struggle for the issues and rights of the tribals, natives, Dalits, backward classes, poor, labourers, farmers, women, youth, and common people of Jharkhand,” he added.
Soren also reflected on the support he has received from the people of the Kolhan region throughout his political career, noting that they had encouraged him to remain active in politics. He criticized other political parties for prioritizing votes over serious issues, asserting that “only BJP seems serious on this issue and other parties are ignoring it for the sake of votes.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that Soren would officially join the BJP on August 30 in Ranchi, following a meeting with Amit Shah. “Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, Champai Soren, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah a short while ago. He will officially join the BJP on August 30 in Ranchi,” Sarma shared in a post on X.
The Congress party has criticized the BJP for allegedly exploiting ambitious figures from rival parties. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit remarked, “Hemant Soren is the biggest leader there, and Champai Soren was the acting CM. After Hemant ji returned, he was elected again. It is not right when he [Champai Soren] says that he is not getting respect. We have seen that BJP goes where they see someone who has high ambitions.”
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren responded to the news by stating that “the people of the state will decide if there were any shortcomings.” Meanwhile, independent MP Pappu Yadav criticized Champai Soren’s decision, suggesting it could erode trust and undermine Hemant Soren’s leadership. Yadav noted that the decision might lead to public distrust in political leaders, particularly when a party worker like Champai Soren was made CM instead of a family member of Hemant Soren.
Despite criticism from his former party, Champai Soren remained steadfast, dismissing the need to respond. Earlier, Soren had hinted at forming a new party, citing grievances during his tenure as Chief Minister and leaving open the possibility of new political moves ahead of the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections.
