Champai Soren arrives Delhi amid reports of him joining BJP, says 'I am where I am'

Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren flew to Delhi, sparking speculation that he might be considering a switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, Soren quickly refuted the rumors, stating that his visit to Delhi was for personal reasons, specifically to meet his daughter.

Addressing the speculations, Champai Soren said, "I have come here for my personal work. Abhi hum jahan par hain vahi par hain." His statement sought to dispel the growing buzz about a possible defection to the BJP.

Reports suggested that Soren, who is a key figure in the JMM and has previously served as Jharkhand's Chief Minister, was accompanied by six party MLAs on his trip to Delhi, further fueling the rumors of a potential shift to the BJP. However, the JMM leadership has dismissed these reports as "mere rumors."

JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey strongly denied any possibility of Soren joining the BJP, describing the party as a "sinking ship." He asserted that Champai Soren, known for his loyalty to the Soren family, would never consider aligning with the BJP.

Champai Soren, a close confidant of the Soren family, was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand after Hemant Soren's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with an alleged land scam case. However, Champai Soren stepped down from the position on July 3 after Hemant Soren was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court, allowing him to return as Chief Minister.

Speculation has been rife that Champai Soren was unhappy with the way he was removed from the top post to make way for Hemant Soren's return. This discontent is believed to be a factor behind the rumors of his potential defection.

Adding to the intrigue, JMM sources have indicated that the party has been unable to contact the six MLAs who reportedly accompanied Champai Soren to Delhi. Additionally, sources suggest that Soren is in touch with several top BJP leaders. Last night, he was reportedly in Kolkata, where he met Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, further intensifying the speculation.