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Champai Soren to join BJP? Mysterious Delhi trip fuels rumours
Champai Soren, the current water resources minister of Jharkhand, was appointed to the chief minister's post after Hemant Soren was arrested by ED in January.
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Amid speculation of his possible shift in loyalty, former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren, a close confidant of JMM chief Hemant Soren, took an early morning flight to Delhi on Sunday. He later said he came to the national capital for a personal work.
Champai Soren spent the previous night at a hotel in Kolkata where he met BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari, reported India Today.
According to the channel, Champai Soren, who reportedly reluctantly gave up the chief ministerial post after Hemant Soren was released from the jail in July, is exploring his political options.
Per rumours in the political quarters, he might seek a meeting with the BJP top brass.
Six MLAs and his personal staff are accompanying Champai Soren, reported the channel, fueling speculation of a political realignment.
Per the report, Champai Soren has been in contact with senior BJP leader and union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
There is no official confirmation of these reports.
Champai Soren is allegedly mulling joining BJP because he is upset with his unceremoniously removal from the post of Jharkhand chief minister.
On Saturday, Champai Soren refuted the rumours.
"I don't know what rumours are being spread. I don't know what news is being run, so I cannot tell whether it's true or not. I don't know anything about it...Hum jahan par hain vahi par hain (I am here only)," he said.
Champai Soren, the current water resources minister of Jharkhand, was appointed to the chief minister's post after Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a land grab case.
After Hemant Soren was granted bail by the state's high court, Champai Soren resigned on July 3.
Also read: Champai Soren resigns as Jharkhand CM, Hemant Soren stakes claim to form govt
The missing MLAs are incommunicado.
On Saturday, BJP MP Deepak Prakash took a veiled jibe at Hemant Soren.
“He (Champai Soren) is a huge personality... 3.5 crore people of Jharkhand were happy with his work... But the way he was removed from the CM post, was unfortunate. It was a setback that a good person was removed from the CM's chair. What was his fault?” he told ANI.
With inputs from ANI
