Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader announced on X that he is joining the BJP, praising it for prioritizing the protection of tribal identity and existence in Santhal Pargana. He criticized other parties for only focusing on votes and not addressing the issue seriously.
Soren stated that the people of Kolhan region supported him throughout and he has decided against retiring from politics.
"Last week (18th August) I had put forth my views in front of the people of the entire country including Jharkhand through a letter. After that, I kept meeting the people of Jharkhand and trying to know their opinion. The people of Kolhan region stood with me at every step, and they rejected the option of taking sanyaas," he said in the tweet.
"There was no such forum/platform in the party where I could express my pain and leaders senior to me are away from politics due to health reasons," he said.
He mentioned that he lacked a platform to voice his concerns and that senior leaders were unavailable because of health issues.
Speaking about the troubles to tribals, he said, "Today, Bangladeshi infiltration has become a big problem in Santhal Pargana, the holy land of Baba Tilka Manjhi and Sido-Kanhu. What can be more unfortunate than the fact that these infiltrators are occupying the lands of the descendants of those heroes who never accepted slavery of the foreign British in the fight for water, forest and land. Because of them, the dignity of our mothers, sisters and daughters who consider brave women like Phool-Jhano as their ideal is in danger."
He also stated that saving the tribals requires a social movement, not just political efforts.
"If these intruders, who are causing economic and social harm to the tribals and natives, are not stopped, the existence of our society in Santhal Pargana will be in danger. In many areas including Pakur, Rajmahal, their number has become more than that of tribals. Apart from politics, we have to make this issue a social movement, only then the existence of tribals will be saved," he said.
He also expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
"Only BJP seems serious on this issue and other parties are ignoring it for the sake of votes. Therefore, in this struggle to save the identity and existence of the tribals, I have decided to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, expressing faith in the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister Mr. @narendramodi and Home Minister Mr. @AmitShah ji," Soren added.
He asked his supporters to join him in fighting for the rights of tribals, natives, Dalits, backward classes, the poor, laborers, farmers, women, youth, and the general public of Jharkhand.
Soren was Jharkhand's Chief Minister from February 2 to July 3 while Hemant Soren was in jail over an alleged land scam. Champai resigned to allow Hemant to resume office. Champai Soren, known as 'Jharkhand's Tiger,' played a key role in the movement for Jharkhand's statehood, which was achieved in 2000 when Jharkhand was created from southern Bihar.
He began his political career as an Independent MLA from Saraikela in 1991. He later joined JMM and won the seat again in 1995, defeating BJP's Panchu Tudu. He lost in 2000 but reclaimed the seat in 2005 with a narrow victory. Champai won re-elections in 2009, 2014, and 2019. When Hemant Soren formed his second government in 2019, Champai became the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Transport.
