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Journalism of Courage
IN JHARKHAND, the best laid plans of even the BJP have failed to take off, with the Hemant Soren government standing strong months to go for the Assembly elections. Now Champai Soren’s appear to be unravelling.
Back in Ranchi from New Delhi, via Kolkata, the JMM veteran sang a different tune Wednesday, no longer talking of “retiring from politics” and promising a “new beginning”. Addressing supporters in Saraikela Kharsawan, Champai said he would either form his own party or will go with “friends” who respect various communities of Jharkhand.
There has been a lot of talk by Champai since he put up a surprise post on X on Sunday, claiming he had faced “humiliation” when told to step down in July by the JMM leadership after a brief stint as CM. As rumours of him joining the BJP started doing the rounds, including talk of him having met senior BJP leaders in Delhi and Kolkata, Champai said he had three options: retire, start his own party, or join another.
However, in the days since, what became clear was that the Jharkhand BJP, with many luminaries (including CM aspirants) in its own ranks, was not really keen to take in Champai. Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi told reporters there had been no such talks between the two sides.
On Wednesday, Champai told supporters: “Pehle hum sochte thai ki hum sanyas le lenge. Kal Kolkata se aane ke samay hazaron aadmi humse bhent kiya… tab humne mann change kiya ki hum samnyas nahin lenge (I first thought that I would retire. However, while returning from Kolkata yesterday, thousands of my supporters met me… That’s when I changed my mind and decided I won’t retire). I will now form my own party, and if I get friends along the way, I can also join them.”
Champai, who has been with the JMM since its formation, snapped at questions regarding whether the time left before the elections was too short for him to plan a new party. “What is your problem with it?” he shot back.
Sources in the JMM also pointed out that despite all the talk, Champai was yet to resign from the Hemant Cabinet. “If Champai wants to form his own party, why is he not resigning from the Cabinet? He is enjoying all the facilities associated with the post and, at the same time, creating pressure on the JMM and using the situation as a bargaining chip,” said a Ranchi-based JMM leader.
A government source said Champai appears to be “trying to create confusion” among the JMM cadres, and had promised tickets to some.
Another insider said: “Champai is telling some disgruntled party workers that he will give them tickets. At the same time, some people from Champai’s camp are reaching out to Hemant Soren’s camp.”
A government source said all eyes are now on Hemant, to see how he reacts to Champai, having not said anything publicly so far. Another source said: “Hemant Soren trusted Champai to lead the state (when Hemant was in jail). So it would not be wise for Hemant to criticise him just yet and make him a victim.”
Champai had become the 12th CM of Jharkhand in February after Hemant resigned ahead of his arrest on money laundering charges. In June, Hemant got out on bail. By all accounts, the meeting where Champai was told to give up his post for Hemant soon after did not go smoothly, with the veteran visibly disturbed at the turn of events.
In Delhi Sunday, when asked by reporters whether he was joining the BJP, Champai said he had some personal work in the Capital. “Aur hum jahan hain, wahin par rahenge (And will remain where I am).”
