What Next For Champai ‘Jharkhand Tiger’ Soren

Champai Soren is apparently called a ‘Jharkhand Tiger’. Indeed, he might be dreaming big time, but there are indications that his political future is bleak.

His reluctance to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one such indicator, while the promised formation of a new party is yet to take off. In all probability, this new party too will collapse like a pack of cards.

Earlier, he had said, while visiting his ancestral village, Jhilingora, in the district of Seraikela-Kharsawan: “It is a new chapter of my life. I won't quit politics as I have received lots of love and support from my followers. The chapter has closed, I may form a new outfit."

Soren has claimed that he was compelled to quit because he was "facing humiliation at the hands of leaders of JMM". No evidence has been provided by him to prove his claim. Meanwhile, the entire Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leadership has kept mum about his controversial decision to depart from the party.

Political observers believe that the charge of “humiliation” is much too far-fetched, and reflects nothing but a greed for power. Soren was made a temporary chief minister, when Heman Soren, leader of the JMM, was sent to jail by the BJP regime on what proved to be flimsy charges without an iota of evidence.

He was discharged by the court, and, thereby, he became the chief minister yet again, as per consensus in the party.

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, had to go to jail yet again, on charges which have not been proved as yet. His colleague, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, was recently released by the Supreme Court after spending 17 long months in Tihar Jail in Delhi. The apex court categorically said that jail is an exception, and bail is a fundamental right.

Sibu Soren, was welcomed with open arms by the people of Jharkhand after his release from jail. They were aware that gross injustice had been done to him, and that he will soon emerge from prison as a much-loved hero. That is what has exactly happened.

Meanwhile, in his absence, his wife, Kalpana Soren, who was hitherto apolitical and ran a school for children, took up his mantle and led the charge during the recently held bypolls in Jharkhand. She joined the jam-packed I.N.D.I.A. bloc rallies before the Lok Sabha polls, along with Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Arvind Kejriwal, and with top Opposition leaders.

Her rallies were successful, and, clearly, she has emerged as a parallel leader along with her husband in the party. As Jharkhand goes to poll in the coming year, she is bound to play a crucial role in mobilising the cadre, especially women. Champai Soren comes from the region of Kolhan.

The JMM-Congress alliance was victorious in all the 14 seats here, including one seat going to an independent, during the last assembly polls in 2019. The JMM has a majority in the Assembly. Apart from the Congress, it is in a formidable alliance with the RJD and CPI-ML (Liberation), who are both trusted allies.

The people of the state have suffered earlier under the BJP regime led by Raghubir Das, who is not a tribal, and was largely not accepted by the majority tribal population. Besides, the series of mob-lynchings, mostly enacted as a pubic spectacle in public spaces by blood-thirsty Hindutva mobs, had shattered the secular fabric of this beautiful, green, small state, full of mineral and natural resources.

The adivasis have never been hostile towards the minorities. It has always been a shared cultural synthesis among the various communities. It was only the Hindutva card which created a sinister atmosphere and polarised the communities. The defeat of the BJP has stopped this bloody game, allegedly orchestrated with overt support of the police and the local administration.

Hemant Soren’s popularity has a fundamental basis. His leadership is deeply appreciated by the people of Jharkhand.

The cash transfer scheme which his government has initiated, has benefited women the most. Under this scheme, those women who are between the age of 21 and 50, will be benefited with Rs 1,000 per month, which amounts to a total amount of Rs 12,000 every year.

Responding to this policy move, women have responded overwhelmingly. Around 43 lakh women have filled the forms, while 42,85,403 applications were promptly approved.

The target is 50 lakh, covering a large population of women-folk in the state. Clearly, this is one the biggest social welfare schemes enacted by the JMM government, making it one of the largest schemes in the state.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had promised during the Lok Sabha election campaign that Rs 1 lakh will be given to poor households. Hemant Soren has followed his cue and promised to give the amount to women members in each family.

Economist Jean Drèze told ‘eNewsroom’, “These cash schemes are certainly useful, but they are very expensive and need to be balanced against other priorities, such as teacher appointments and health expenditures. A gradual roll-out would have been best, but the government seems to be in a hurry, possibly due to the coming elections.”

Hemant Soren now back in the saddle as Chief Minister, with the entire JMM supporting him overwhelmingly, seems to be on a strong wicket, as and when the polls will be held in the state.

In contrast, an aging Champai Soren’s fate seems to be sealed, and he is bound to find himself on a sticky wicket, despite his new-found ambitions.

Besides, with Narendra Modi’s political graph on a decisive decline, the BJP does not seem to have many cards left.