'You Are A Tiger': NDA Neta's Roaring Endorsement For Champai Soren Amid Buzz Over His BJP Foray

Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) president Jitan Ram Manjhi, an ally in the ruling NDA government, welcomed former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren to the “NDA family” on Sunday, fuelling speculation that Soren may be shifting his allegiance to the BJP.

In a social media post on X, Manjhi referred to Soren, a senior leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), as a “tiger,” writing, “Champai da, you were a tiger, you are a tiger and you will remain a tiger. Welcome to the NDA family. Johar Tiger.”

Despite Manjhi’s formal welcome, there has been no official statement or announcement from the Bharatiya Janata Party regarding Soren’s potential move.

Experienced ‘Bitter Humiliation’: Champai Soren

On Sunday, Soren expressed feeling “bitter humiliation” during his tenure as Jharkhand Chief Minister. His remarks came shortly after he arrived in Delhi amid speculation about joining the BJP.

Soren revealed that during his tenure as Chief Minister, his government programs scheduled for the first week of July were abruptly cancelled by the party leadership without his knowledge. He stated that he remained silent as he was not greedy for power but his self-respect was hurt.

“After so much insult and contempt, I was forced to look for an alternative path,” Soren wrote in his statement, which was also shared on social media handle X.

He explained that he had announced in a legislative party meeting that “a new chapter in my life is going to begin from today.” Soren outlined three possible paths: retiring from politics, forming a new political outfit, or aligning with a new ally.

“I had three options in this. First, to retire from politics, second, to form my own separate organization and third, if I find a companion 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,” he stated.

Champai Soren began his term as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand on February 2, shortly after his predecessor Hemant Soren resigned just before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money-laundering case.

Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after being granted bail by the high court and was re-elected as the JMM’s legislature party leader on July 3. Champai Soren subsequently resigned, allowing Hemant Soren to assume office as Chief Minister for a third term.

BJP ‘Work To Break Families, Parties’: Hemant Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren accused the BJP of “poaching” MLAs and “dividing society.” Speaking at an event in Jharkhand’s Godda district, he alleged that the BJP was bringing people from Gujarat, Assam, and Maharashtra to “spread poison among the tribals, Dalits, backward classes and minorities and make them fight with each other.”

“Forget about society, these people work to break families and parties. They poach MLAs. Money is such a thing that it doesn’t take long for politicians to move here and there,” Hemant Soren remarked.

(With inputs from PTI)