Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday in Ranchi, ahead of the forthcoming assembly elections.

Soren, accompanied by a large group of supporters, made the switch in a ceremony attended by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Addressing the crowd after his induction, Soren explained, “I was embarrassed, which initially led me to consider retiring from politics. However, the love and support from the people of Jharkhand encouraged me to continue. Having witnessed the struggles during the ‘Jharkhand Andolan,’ I felt a renewed sense of purpose.”

He further elaborated, “I had contemplated either launching a new party or joining another one, but I couldn’t stay in an organization where I felt humiliated. Therefore, I chose to join the BJP to continue my service to the people of Jharkhand.”

Previously, Soren had been a close aide to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren. On Wednesday, he resigned from JMM, expressing his discontent in a letter to Shibu Soren. The letter stated, “I never imagined leaving JMM, a party that has been like family to me. The recent developments have forced me to make this painful decision. I am deeply pained to see the party deviating from its foundational principles.”

Soren’s move to the BJP is seen as a significant boost for the party, which is aiming to strengthen its position in Jharkhand’s tribal areas, where Scheduled Tribes constitute about 26 percent of the electorate. Champai Soren briefly served as Chief Minister when Hemant Soren was compelled to step down due to an Enforcement Directorate probe on January 31. Champai Soren’s tenure lasted until June 28, when Hemant Soren was granted bail and resumed his position.

Reflecting on his departure from JMM, Soren remarked, “After experiencing such humiliation, I was driven to seek an alternative path. It was particularly disheartening to have a Chief Minister’s program canceled by another individual. During a legislative party meeting on July 3, I was pressured to resign, which made me feel as though I was invisible in the party to which I had devoted my entire life.”