Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren to Join BJP on August 30

New Delhi: After months of speculation, senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Champai Soren who had taken over as chief minister during party chief Hemant Soren’s incarceration earlier this year, will be joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Champai met BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, yesterday (August 26).

Jharkhand is set to go to polls in November or December this year, and Sarma is the party’s election in-charge for that state.

“He will officially join [BJP] on 30th August in Ranchi,” Sarma posted on X.

Champai is yet to resign from his posts in the Jharkhand cabinet and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party.

He had served as the chief minister of the state between February 2 and July 3, winning the trust vote after Hemant Soren had been arrested and imprisoned by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case. He was one of the leaders who led the party – a key presence in the opposition INDIA alliance – through the Lok Sabha elections.

On July 4, Hemant took oath as Jharkhand chief minister, a few days after he was granted bail.

“I have resigned as per the decision of the JMM-led alliance. Our alliance is strong,” PTI had quoted Champai as having said then.

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However, recently, Champai had been expressing discomfort with how he was removed from his post. He had, on social media, posted footage of touring various assembly seats like Kharsawan and Seraikela where he has significant influence in.