Jamshedpur: Former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Ranchi ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Champai, along with a large number of his supporters, joined the BJP in the presence of Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a ceremony in Ranchi.

JMM MLA from Ghatshila and prominent tribal leader of Kolhan Ramdas Soren replaced Champai Soren in the Hemant Soren-led cabinet on Friday morning, a few hours before the latter joined the BJP.

Ramdas Soren, who sought the blessing of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren before the swearing-in ceremony by governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, was given the same portfolio as Champai (water resources department and higher and technical education department).

“Ramdas has started his political career as gram pradhan (village head) of Ghorabandha in Jamshedpur and had been raising his voice against tribal exploitation in the East Singhbhum district and neighbouring district of West Singhbhum in the Kolhan region for nearly three decades and was among the tribal face along with Champai. He was the best bet for JMM to replace Champai Da,” said a close aide of Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren.

Sources in the JMM said that Hemant is keen on repeating the 2019 Assembly polls performance in the Kolhan belt — it comprises 14 Assembly seats, including Saraikela, Champai’s constituency, and Ghatshila, Ramdas’s seat — with the JMM.

In the 2019 Assembly polls, the BJP had not been able to win any seat in the Kolhan belt where 11 seats were won by the JMM, two by the Congress, and one seat by BJP rebel turned Independent candidate Saryu Roy (Jamshedpur East).

“Hemant wants to repeat the 2019 performance and has been focussing on the Kolhan region for a long time. Past ministers include Deepak Birua, Joba Manjhi (now an MP), and Ramdas Soren. The idea is to trump the dent that Champai is thinking of making in the region now that he has crossed over to the saffron party,” a JMM source said.

Champai, who joined the BJP in the presence of BJP Jharkhand Assembly poll in-charge Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sarma (BJP’s Jharkhand Assembly election co-incharge), turned emotional while giving a speech in Santhali during a public function at Ranchi on Friday and was followed by his son Babubal and several supporters.

“I was insulted in the organisation which I nurtured with my blood and sweat. I
had decided to retire from politics. But seeing the suffering of the people and their faith in me, I thought of forming a separate party. But after a lot of brainstorming, I decided to continue in politics,” said Champai.

Targeting JMM and Hemant, Champai said: “I never thought that my own people would spy on me. If Santhal Pargana has to be saved, if tribals have to be saved, then only one party can do this work and that is the BJP.

“At any cost, we will not let atrocities happen on tribals in Jharkhand. We will fight like our ancestors to remove the infiltrators, to save the tribals and their land.”

Champai served as chief minister after Hemant was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate soon after resigning from the post of chief minister in January and after Hemant was released on bail in June, Champai resigned from the post of on July 3, paving the way for Hemant to take oath as chief minister.

“Hemant is countering the switching over of veteran leader Champai to the BJP with a slew of popular measures like Thursday’s cabinet decision of waiving ₹3,584 crore in power dues for around 39.44 lakh domestic consumers using 200 units of power. The move was aimed at relieving financial burdens on domestic consumers enrolled under the Mukhyamantri Urja Khushali Yojana, a scheme where consumers enjoy free electricity up to 200 units. Now they will not need to pay arrear bills,” said a close aide of Hemant.

The cabinet also approved the extension of the remuneration period for Anganwadi poshan sakhis (a nutrition-based initiative aimed at improving the health of women and children) and cooks from 10 to 12 months and ₹31.71 crore was allocated for this purpose.

The cabinet also approved the re-appointment of 10,388 poshan sakhis who have a good relationship with villagers, especially women.

The government also announced the resumption of the government at your doorstep scheme (holding camps at panchayats) between August 30 and September 15 to solve grievances of locals so that beneficiaries of welfare schemes derive benefit from the schemes.