A santhal leader from Kolhan region will replace another in the Hemant Soren-led cabinet in Jharkhand on Friday.

The second most senior leader of JMM in the Kolhan region comprising the industrial belt of Singhbhum, Ramdas Soren who is currently representing the Ghatshila Assembly segment will be inducted in the Jharkhand cabinet on Friday morning at Ranchi barely a few hours before former chief minister Champai Soren joins the BJP along with his son Babloo. Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (BJP’s in-charge of Jharkhand Assembly poll) and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (BJP’s co-in-charge of Jharkhand Assembly election) will be present at the function at Shahid Maidan in Ranchi.

“The decision has already been conveyed to Ramdas Soren by Hemant Soren. The move is aimed at consolidating tribal votes and stemming any attempts by the BJP to split it, taking advantage of Champai Soren. Both Ramdas and Champai have been synonymous with Jharkhand separate statehood agitation and enjoy good clout in the Kolhan region,” said a close aide of Hemant Soren and a Ranchi-based JMM leader.

On Wednesday evening, Champai Soren announced on social media his resignation from all party posts in the JMM and also announced stepping down from his role as MLA (Seraikela) and cabinet minister (water resources and higher and technical education portfolio).

In his resignation letter addressed to JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, Champai expressed his dissatisfaction with the current working style of policies of the JMM.

“I am compelled to leave the party due to my discontent with the current practices and policies of the JMM. It is with great sadness that I must say that the party which we envisioned under your leadership and for which we toiled in the forests, mountains and villages, has strayed from its original direction,” the letter written in Hindi states.

Ramdas Soren, who is a two-term Ghatshila MLA and district president of East Singhbhum, would be joining the cabinet for the first time in his political career.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Ramdas Soren said that there is no ill-feeling towards Champai Soren for his decision.

“He (Champai Soren) is a big leader and will remain so. I spent my youth with him and fought for the Jharkhand movement alongside him. What advice can we give him? The party has asked him to reconsider the step he took. The party gave him full respect from the beginning. There is no doubt about it. He was an MLA for six times, was made a minister thrice and was also given the chair of chief minister,” said Ramdas Soren.

Meanwhile, a senior JMM leader from Santhal Pargana region who is close to Hemant Soren claimed surprises for BJP in the weeks ahead of Assembly polls.

“The BJP might be flying high after roping in Champai Soren. Only time will tell if their ploy to split tribal votes in Kolhan is successful or not. But be assured that BJP will be in for some bitter surprises in the weeks prior to the announcement of election schedules with at least three important MLAs switching over to JMM.

“BJP desperation is understandable due to the slew of popular welfare schemes announced by Hemant Soren,” said the leader who is a member of the JMM central committee.

He said the three MLAs include two prominent faces in the Santhal Pargana region and one from the South Chotanagpur region.