Ranchi: Former chief minister and BJP MLA from Seraikela Champai Soren on Sunday denied "rumours" that he is planning "ghar wapasi" by returning to the JMM fold. After BJP's poor show in the recently concluded assembly polls, including in Seraikela Kharsawan district — the home turf of Champai — an old video of the former CM praising Hemant Soren went viral on social media platforms since Saturday, after which rumours started flying that the JMM-rebel is eyeing to come back to the tribal party.
Reacting to the viral posts and the social media video, Champai on Sunday took to X and said, "Some misleading rumours are being spread about me on social media as part of an agenda by making an old video viral. This was done at the time of the election also. Please avoid such rumours."
Champai, a political warhorse with over four decades of association with JMM, joined BJP just ahead of the assembly election after charging the Hemant Soren-led dispensation with humiliation for removing him from the CM's post "unceremoniously".
Known as the "Kolhan Tiger", Champai was installed as the chief minister soon after Hemant was arrested by ED in January this year in alleged land scam and corruption cases. He was, however, made to vacate the post in July to make way for Hemant, who came out of jail after he was granted bail by the high court.
Except for Champai, all other BJP candidates were defeated on the remaining 27 tribal seats in the assembly election, paving the way for the Hemant-led INDIA bloc to return to office with a thumping majority.
Talking to reporters recently, Champai said he would continue to fight against Bangladeshi infiltration and claimed that it is threatening the identity of the tribals in the state.