Champai Soren, who resigned as Jharkhand Chief Minister on July 3 after JMM leader Hemant Soren claimed the right to form the government following five months in jail, on Sunday dismissed the speculations of him switching sides and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Champai flew to Delhi early morning today with his personal staff amid ongoing speculation about his shift to the BJP. He also removed JMM from his X bio today.
According to reports, he is in touch with top BJP leaders, including Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
On Saturday, he was in Kolkata where he reportedly met with BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari.
Lobin Hembrom, a former JMM MLA who contested as a rebel candidate in the Lok Sabha election, according to News18, revealed to a media organization that Champai Soren is in contact with BJP leadership. Hembrom, recently disqualified as a JMM MLA under the anti-defection law, stated that it's time to challenge 'parivarvaad' or dynasty politics.
Speculation about Champai’s departure from the JMM intensified, with rumors also suggesting that Hembrom and sitting minister Badal Patralekh may join the BJP in Delhi.
Champai Soren had been appointed Chief Minister after Hemant Soren's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with an alleged land scam case.
The rumors about his switch gained traction following Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's praise for him: “In the last five years of JMM-Congress rule in Jharkhand, any work accomplished was during Champai Soren’s six-month tenure as Chief Minister,” Sarma remarked.
However, on Saturday also, Champai Soren dismissed the speculation, stating, "I don’t know anything about such speculations and reports... I am where I am."
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