‘Tiger of Kolhan’, Jharkhand ex-CM Champai Soren joins BJP

New Delhi, August 30

In a major boost to saffron morale on the eve of the state Assembly poll, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and veteran JMM leader Champai Soren joined the BJP on Friday.

“‘The tiger of Kolhan’ has joined us today. He has signalled that he will not provoke anyone, but if he is provoked, he will not spare them,” BJP Jharkhand poll incharge and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Ranchi, welcoming Soren into the party fold, along with several supporters.

Champai is popularly hailed as a ‘tiger’ for his aggressive advocacy of separate statehood for Jharkhand as part of the JMM’s movement. A visibly emotional Champai, once a close aide of JMM founder Shibu Soren, today lamented being “spied on” by his leader’s son and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. “After I was put under surveillance by the Jharkhand Government in Delhi and Kolkata, my resolve to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strengthened. Tribal identity in Jharkhand is at stake, and only the BJP can save the tribals and check infiltration in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana,” he claimed.

He also rued what he called “humiliation at the hands of the party he nurtured”. Champai was named Jharkhand Chief Minister in January after the then Chief Minister , Hemant Soren, resigned and was arrested by the ED.

On July 3, Champai was made to resign to facilitate Hemant’s return after he came out on bail.

“I nurtured the JMM with my sweat and blood, but was humiliated and insulted. I have been compelled to join the BJP. I am now proud to be a member of the world’s largest political party. I was unable to tolerate any more humiliation and snooping,” he said. Also present at the event was Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Samra, who is said to have played a major role in Champai’s BJP forays.

The latest BJP induction is being seen as a potential booster for saffron ranks ahead of elections in the state, where 26% of the population belongs to the Scheduled Tribes. — TNS