NDA Minister Welcomes 'Tiger' Champai To Alliance Escalating Defection Buzz
Amid the speculation of Champai Soren's potential switch to the BJP, Jitan Ram Manjhi called Champai Soren a 'tiger' and welcomed him to the NDA.
Jharkhand News: As the suspense over former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren's next step continues following his arrival in the national capital, Union minister Jitan Ram Manji on Sunday 'welcomed' him to the "NDA family".
In a post on social media platform X, Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Jitan Ram Manjhi called Champai Soren a 'tiger'. "Champai da, you were, you are and will remain a tiger. Welcome to the NDA family. Jihar tiger," Manjhi said in a post in Hindi.
चंपाई दा आप टाईगर थें,टाईगर हैं और टाईगर ही रहेंगें।
— Jitan Ram Manjhi (@jitanrmanjhi) August 18, 2024
NDA परिवार में आपका स्वागत है।
जोहार टाईगर…@ChampaiSoren
Amid the buzz over Champai Soren's potential switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), JMM took a swipe at the saffron party saying that the Jharkhand unit of the BJP is full of chief ministers.
"Jharkhand BJP is full of chief ministers- Former former former former Chief Minister Babulal ji- Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda ji - Former Chief Minister Madhu Koda ji (joined the party through the back door) - Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das Ji And above that there is Super CM – Himanta Biswa Sarma ji Now it seems that one or two more former governors will be exiled from the state," JMM said in a post on X.
झारखंड भाजपा में मुख्यमंत्रियों की भरमार है
— Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (@JmmJharkhand) August 18, 2024
- पूर्व पूर्व पूर्व पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री बाबूलाल जी
- पूर्व पूर्व पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री अर्जुन मुंडा जी
- पूर्व पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री मधु कोड़ा जी (पीछे रास्ते से दल में)
- पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री रघुबर दास जी
और उसके ऊपर सुपर CM हैं ही
-…
All Options Are Open For Me, Says Champai Soren
Meanwhile on Sunday, Champai Soren said he experienced "bitter humiliation" as chief minister and three options are open to him, including floating a new outfit. His comment hinting that he may quit the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) came shortly after he reached Delhi amid speculation about a potential switch to the BJP as party supremo and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren accused the saffron party of "poaching" MLAs and "dividing society".
BJP leader Babulal Marandi said in reaction to Champai Soren's post that this is "just the beginning of the downfall of JMM, which has deviated from its ideology".
In a statement, Champai Soren alleged that all his government programmes in the first week of July, when he was the chief minister, were abruptly cancelled by the party leadership without his knowledge. He said he kept quiet as he was not greedy for power but his self-respect was hurt. "After so much humiliation, I was forced to look for an alternative path," Champai Soren said in a post on his social media.
The ex-chief minister said he had announced in the legislative party meeting that "a new chapter in my life is going to begin from today". "I had three options. First to retire from politics, second to float a separate outfit, and third, if I find any ally, to carry forward with them. From that day till today, and till the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, all options are open for me in this journey," he said in a post on X.
Champai Soren also spoke about the events that preceded his removal as chief minister after Hemant Soren's release from prison on bail. "When I enquired about the reasons for cancellation (of his events), I was informed that there was a meeting of party legislators on July 3 and that I could not attend any government programmes until then," he said.
"Can there be anything more humiliating in a democracy than having a chief minister's programme cancelled by another person?" he asked.
Champai Soren claimed that although a chief minister has the authority to call a meeting of the legislative party, he was not even informed of the meeting's agenda. "During the meeting, I was asked to resign. I was taken aback. Since I had no desire for power, I resigned immediately. However, my self-respect was deeply hurt," Champai Soren further stated.
The JMM leader mentioned that he was emotional and struggling to control his tears. "But all he (referring to Chief Minister Hemant Soren without naming him) seemed interested in was the chair. I felt as though I had no existence, no presence in the party to which I had dedicated my entire life," he said.
Champai Soren noted that he faced many such humiliations, which he preferred not to detail at the moment. He also emphasised that this is his personal battle and he does not intend to involve any party member or harm the organisation. "I can never think of harming the party which we have nurtured with our blood and sweat. But circumstances have been created such that..." he added.
Champai Soren assumed office 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 in a money-laundering case.
Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after being granted bail by the high court. On July 3, he was elected as the JMM's legislature party leader.
Champai Soren subsequently submitted his resignation to the governor, paving the way for Hemant Soren to be sworn in as chief minister for a third time.
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