Capping days-long speculations, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren will join the BJP. The tribal leader will join the party on August 30 in Ranchi, Sarma confirmed.
Ahead of the move, Soren met Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Monday. Sarma, who is the BJP's co-incharge for the Jharkhand assembly polls, shared a picture of the meeting on X in which he too participated.
"Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, Champai Soren Ji met Hon'ble Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ji a short while ago. He will officially join the BJP on 30th August in Ranchi," Sarma said on 'X'.
Sarma's statement comes amid rumours about Soren's switch, which began doing the rounds after Soren landed in Delhi two weeks ago. Two days later, Soren said he experienced “bitter humiliation” during his tenure as the chief minister of the state.
Soren also accused the JMM leadership of abruptly cancelling all government programmes in the first week of July. Soren said when he enquired about the reason for the cancellation, he was told that a meeting of the legislative party has been called by the coalition on July 3 and till then he cannot attend any programme as the chief minister. He added that he was asked to resign, a demand which devastated him though he had no greed for power.
Also read: ‘All options are open,' says Champai Soren amid buzz of joining BJP
Meanwhile, Sarma on Monday added that the BJP was also ready to welcome JMM chief Hemant Soren to its fold. "I want Hemant Soren to also join the BJP. BJP means patriotism. We are also ready to talk to Hemant Soren ji to stop intruders in Jharkhand. We have to save Jharkhand," Sarma said.
He also detailed the criteria under which BJP would support Soren. "If he (Hemant Soren) gives 5 lakh jobs before September, we are with him. If he stands against the infiltrators, we are with him. If he stands against the treatment meted out to Hindus during Muharram, we are with him. For us, the nation comes first," he added.