SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Aug. 26: Former Chief Minister and senior JMM leader Champai Soren is set to join the BJP tomorrow or the day after in New Delhi.
According to sources, Champai Soren, who is yet to quit the Hemant Soren cabinet, is not going to form his own party.
He dropped enough hints about his ‘new friend’ earlier in the day when his posters with saffron backgrounds appeared at his residence in Seraikela.
Incidentally, senior BJP leaders, including Babulal Marandi are tight-lipped on the issue.
Champai Soren, a big Santhali tribal face in Kolhan, also known as the ‘Kolhan tiger’ is said to have taken this decision after he assessed the ‘ground reality’ during his visits to various areas in Kolhan since August 18 when he had shared a post on his X handle saying that he was “insulted” while being the Chief Minister.
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Besides, he has also said that he was not going to harm the JMM.
According to sources, Champai Soren is bargaining for the Ghatshila assembly seat for his son, apart from the Seraikela assembly seat for himself.
Earlier, Champai Soren, accompanied by his son Bablu Soren and over a dozen staunch supporters left for Delhi on Monday morning from Kolkata. Bablu said the whole matter will be clear by Tuesday.
Himanta Biswa Sarma drops hints
On the other hand, Assam CM and BJP’s Jharkhand Assembly Election Co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Champai Soren has three options, he is in Delhi right now, and the way for talks with him is open. “Let’s see what happens,” he said while talking to the media at the Ranchi airport on Monday before leaving for Delhi.
He said that a meeting with Champai could be held in Delhi. “By the way, talks keep happening with him. He is a senior leader. It is not right to say much about him. He can move forward towards his third option (joining the BJP),” Sarma said.
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