Ranchi: As veteran leader and former chief minister Champai Soren joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday, the political circles in Jharkhand are abuzz with the talks of the extent of damage that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will face in the upcoming polls.
Champai, along with a large number of his supporters, joined the BJP in the presence of Union minister and BJP’s election in charge for the Jharkhand polls Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister and state co-in charge Himanta Biswa Sarma in Ranchi on 30 August.
Almost all the BJP leaders, in their speeches, targeted the ruling JMM and said that this time, the BJP would form a government in Jharkhand. Champai, on his part, repeated his stand that the JMM had “insulted” him.
Earlier, Chouhan told reporters that Champai Soren joining the BJP was a “turning point”. “He is an asset for BJP and for saving Jharkhand. He did good work as a chief minister, but those who wanted power for their family insulted Champai ji. This is an insult to the entire Jharkhand.”
A six-time MLA from Seraikela, Champai Soren is a confidant of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren and known as ‘Tiger’ in Kolhan region. Not only was he a footsoldier of the Jharkhand statehood movement, Champai was also the flag bearer of JMM for more than three decades.
In 2019, Champai defeated BJP’s Ganesh Mahali by 15,667 votes. Comprising the districts of East Singhbhum (Jamshedpur), West Singhbhum (Chaibasa) and Saraikela, the Kolhan region shares its border with West Bengal and Odisha. A large part of Kolhan region is dominated by Santhal, Munda and Ho tribes.
Tough challenges for JMM
Political analyst Deepak Ambastha reiterated that Champai is a strong tribal leader in Kolhan region.
“He has experience in mobilising supporters and personal connection with people. He is also well aware of the JMM’s ground penetration, shortcomings and vote factor. Obviously, in the changed political circumstances, he has put the JMM under pressure and can also influence elections on ST seats in at least Kolhan region. The BJP would like to take advantage in other tribal areas of the state as well,” he told ThePrint.
BJP Legislative Party leader Amar Kumar Bauri has admitted that Champai Soren’s joining would strengthen the party. “He is a grassroots leader with an impeccable image who emerged from the Jharkhand movement. His joining the BJP has increased the restlessness of the JMM.”
On the other hand, JMM’s Ghatshila legislator Ramdas Soren sought to downplay the importance of the rebel leader.
“Champai Soren’s name has been associated with the JMM. Now that he has joined the BJP. How much stranglehold he has, will be seen in the elections,” the newly appointed Jharkhand minister told ThePrint. “Whether Champai Soren contests from Seraikela or Ghatshila, he will face defeat. The BJP will not be able to open its account again in Kolhan region.”
On Friday morning, a few hours before Champai joined the BJP, Ramdas Soren took oath and was given the same portfolio earlier held by Kolhan ‘Tiger’—water resources, higher and technical education department.
By giving cabinet minister status to Ramdas Soren, who is known as a stronghold Santhal tribal leader and a statehood movement fighter, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has tried to play a smart strategy, a JMM functionary told ThePrint.
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Tussle to retain & snatch power
Jharkhand is set for polls in November-December. In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, 28 seats are reserved for tribals. All these seats fall in Santhal Pargana, Kolhan and North Chotanagpur regions.
Back in 2019, the BJP lost its hold on tribal segments as well as the government in Jharkhand, as it won only two seats reserved for tribals.
The Kolhan region has 14 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats. In 2019, JMM won 11 seats, and the Congress 2. In East Jamshedpur, ex-minister and Independent candidate Saryu Rai defeated former chief minister Raghubar Das.
In this year’s general elections, the BJP has won Jamshedpur for the third time in a row, while JMM’s Joba Majhi defeated BJP’s Geeta Koda by a huge margin in Singhbhum. Now, the party can field Geeta Koda in the assembly elections.
“Champai Soren is a big tribal face in Kolhan. He has also fought for Jharkhandi workers in the industrial belt of Singhbhum. So, he can be a hurdle for the JMM. If the BJP wins some seats in Kolhan this time by playing the Champai card, it will surely benefit,” National Election Watch’s Jharkhand coordinator and analyst Sudhir Pal told ThePrint
JMM on alert mode
Ahead of state polls, the ruling JMM-Congress combine is closely monitoring the rapidly changing equations and political scenario, with JMM’s working president and Chief Minister Hemant Soren himself leading from the front.
On 20 August, four JMM MLAs from Kolhan—Samir Mohanty, Ramdas Soren, Mangal Kalindi and Sanjeev Sardar—met Soren in Ranchi for about one and a half hours. Later, they denied rumours that they were in touch with the BJP along with Champai Soren.
After this, Hemant Soren, who reached Jamshedpur to attend a programme on 23 August, held separate meetings with all the MLAs, prominent leaders of the JMM and Singhbhum MP Joba Majhi.
In his programmes, Soren has been accusing the BJP of luring away leaders and destabilising the government. At Dumka on 27 August, he alleged that even after facing defeat in the past, the opposition party was trying to dislodge his government.
After Champai Soren joined the BJP, JMM rebel and ex-MLA of Borio, Lobin Hembram, also joined the BJP on Saturday. In July, Hembram’s membership of the Assembly was terminated under the anti-defection law.
Dashrath Gagrai, JMM MLA from Kharsawan, told ThePrint that “after losing all the five seats reserved for tribals in the Lok Sabha elections, BJP’s restlessness is clearly visible. Once again, BJP, which is trying to bring tribal leaders of other parties to its side, will be defeated in its own game plan. Champai Soren has joined BJP, not JMM cadres and supporters”.
“Champai Soren joining the BJP will not affect the strength of JMM. INDIA bloc will score on all the seats of Kolhan,” he contended.
A two-term MLA, Gagrai had defeated former Union minister Arjun Munda at Kharsawan in 2014. Since then this defeat has been troubling BJP.
“BJP’s ground strength in Jharkhand is shaken from its roots, so it has been borrowing leaders of other parties by hook or crook. After Geeta Koda and Sita Soren, Champai Soren is a part of this chain. But it is certain that Champai Soren will not be able to save even his seat of Saraikela. In future, he will have to regret his decision,” JMM leader and minister Mithilesh Kumar Thakur told ThePrint.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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