On Sunday (18th August), Former Jharkhand CM and senior JMM leader Champai Soren reacted to the strong buzz that he could soon leave his party to join the BJP, stating that for him all three options are open – retirement, forming his own political party or ‘joining companion’, alluding to joining a political party.
It is pertinent to note that on 2nd February 2024, he became the state’s 12th CM following Hemant Soren’s resignation. Soren, who has been embroiled in corruption charges, tendered his resignation before being arrested by the ED in a land scam case. However, on 28th June, the Jharkhand HC granted him bail in that case. Out on bail, Soren returned as the state CM on 3rd July, albeit following an unceremonious ouster of his party colleague and ‘interim’ CM, Champai Soren.
जोहार साथियों,
— Champai Soren (@ChampaiSoren) August 18, 2024
आज समाचार देखने के बाद, आप सभी के मन में कई सवाल उमड़ रहे होंगे। आखिर ऐसा क्या हुआ, जिसने कोल्हान के एक छोटे से गांव में रहने वाले एक गरीब किसान के बेटे को इस मोड़ पर लाकर खड़ा कर दिया।
अपने सार्वजनिक जीवन की शुरुआत में औद्योगिक घरानों के खिलाफ मजदूरों की आवाज…
On Sunday, the JMM leader wrote a long post on Twitter to mention chronological events that unfolded around his ouster which he has described as a ‘humiliating experience’ and a blow to his self-respect, forcing him to explore his future options.
Reflecting on his long political career – right from raising voices for workers, and the Jharkhand movement, Champai Soren stated that he had raised issues of public concern and ensured the rights of tribals, natives, poor, labourers, students, and people of backward classes of the state.
He added that during his brief stint – from 31st January to 3rd July – he took several decisions in the public interest. However, after the Hul Diwas celebrations on 30th June, he was told that all his events for the next two days were postponed by the JMM leadership.
Champai Soren added, “One of these was a public program in Dumka, while the other was to distribute appointment letters to PGT teachers. On asking, I came to know that a meeting of the legislative party has been called by the coalition on July 3, till then you cannot attend any program as CM.”
Describing it as a humiliating experience, he further stated, “Can there be anything more humiliating in a democracy than a Chief Minister’s programs being cancelled by another person?”
He added that despite swallowing the bitter pill of insult when he said that he could attend the legislative party meeting after distributing appointment letters, his proposal was flatly rejected.
He lamented, “For the first time in my spotless political journey of the last four decades, I was broken from within. I could not understand what to do. For two days, I sat quietly and introspected, searching for my mistake in the whole incident. I did not have the greed for power even a bit, but to whom could I show this blow to my self-respect? Where could I express the pain inflicted by my own people?”
Blow to my self-respect: Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren
He continued by noting that during this legislative party meeting, he was asked to resign. He added, “I was surprised, but I had no greed for power, so I immediately resigned, but my heart was emotional due to the blow to my self-respect.”
He emphasised that the development had forced him to look for an alternative path. He recalled, “I was so emotional due to the insulting behaviour I was facing for the last three days that I was trying to control my tears, but they were only interested in the chair. I felt as if I had no existence in that party, no existence at all, for which I had dedicated my entire life. In the meantime, many such insulting incidents happened, which I do not want to mention right now. After so much insult and contempt, I was forced to look for an alternative path.”
Regarding his future options, he didn’t reject the media buzz of him joining the BJP and noted that he has all three options open before him.
He concluded by saying, “With a heavy heart, I said in the same meeting of the legislative party that – ‘A new chapter of my life is going to start from today.’ I had three options for this. First, to retire from politics, second, to form my separate organization and third, if I find a companion on this path, then to travel further with him.”
In another tweet, he, however, added that he has no intention of involving any party member or causing any harm to the organization as it is his personal struggle.
Arvind Kejriwal playing safe? Is the ensuing JMM feud a part 2 of Jitan Ram Manjhi and Nitish Kumar’s tussle for the CM post?
Nonetheless, the development – an apparent feud between Hemant Soren – the past and incumbent CM — and Champai Soren – the Interim CM appears to have an uncanny similarity with the feud between Jitan Ram Manjhi and Nitish Kumar which erupted after they briefly swapped the CM post among themselves. After the fallout with Nitish Kumar, Jitan Ram Manji not only quit the party but also went on to launch his political outfit, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM). On several occasions, the two had been embroiled in a war of words both inside the Bihar Assembly and outside. Notably, HAM is a constituent of NDA.
Strikingly, it also underscores the apparent reason – apprehension – behind Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to not give over the reigns of his party and CM post to any AAP leader, including his wife, even when he has been in Tihar jail for a long time now in a corruption case.
