Ranchi | Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren on Sunday said he experienced "bitter humiliation" as chief minister, which compelled him to seek an alternative path.
His comment came shortly after he reached Delhi amid speculation about a potential switch to the BJP.
"After so much humiliation, I was forced to look for an alternative path," Soren, the former chief minister of Jharkhand, posted on his social media accounts.
The JMM leader alleged that all his government programmes in the first week of July were abruptly cancelled by the party leadership without his knowledge.
"When I enquired about the reasons for cancellation, I was informed that there was a meeting of party legislators on July 3 and that I could not attend any government programmes until then," he said.
"Can there be anything more humiliating in a democracy than having a chief minister's programme cancelled by another person?" he questioned.
Soren claimed that although the CM had the authority to call a meeting of the legislative party, he was not even informed of the meeting's agenda.
"During the meeting, I was asked to resign. I was taken aback. Since I had no desire for power, I resigned immediately. However, my self-respect was deeply hurt," Soren added.
The JMM leader mentioned that he was emotional and struggling to control his tears.
"But all he (referring to Chief Minister Hemant Soren without naming him) seemed interested in was the chair. I felt as though I had no existence, no presence in the party to which I had dedicated my entire life," he said.
Champai Soren noted that he faced many such humiliations, which he preferred not to detail at the moment.
The ex-CM said he had announced in the legislative party meeting, "a new chapter in my life is going to begin from today".
"From that day until now, and through the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, all options are open for me in this journey," he said.
Soren emphasised that this is his personal battle and he does not intend to involve any party member or harm the organisation.
"I can never think of harming the party which we have nurtured with our blood and sweat. But circumstances have been created such that..." he added.
The JMM leader also mentioned that party supremo Shibu Soren is not active in politics due to health reasons. "Had he been active, things would have been different," Champai Soren said.
The former CM claimed that during his tenure as chief minister, he made numerous decisions in public interest.
"People of the state will assess the decisions I made during my tenure, considering the elderly, women, youth, students, and every section of society," he added.
Champai Soren assumed office as the 12th CM of Jharkhand on February 2, shortly after his predecessor Hemant Soren resigned just before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after being granted bail by the high court. On July 3, he was elected as the JMM's legislature party leader.
Champai Soren subsequently submitted his resignation letter to the governor, paving the way for Hemant Soren to be sworn in as chief minister for the third time.
Reacting to Champai Soren's post, Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi said the JMM has now become a "party of only one family".
"Champai Soren Ji, who had devoted his entire life to the party, was humiliated and removed from the post of chief minister. His rights were violated and his programmes were forcibly cancelled," he alleged.
The BJP leader said this is "just the beginning of the downfall of JMM, which has deviated from its ideology.
JMM senior leader and minister Mithilesh Thakur said that Champai Soren is the party's senior leader and if there is any issue, it would be sorted out.
"JMM is a family and if there is any issue in the family, it would be resolved within it," he said.
Godda (Jharkhand) | Amid speculation that JMM leader Champai Soren could join the BJP, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday accused the saffron camp of "poaching" MLAs and "dividing society".
Soren's statement came hours after JMM legislator and former chief minister Champai Soren reached Delhi.
Addressing a government function in Jharkhand's Godda district, Hemant Soren alleged that the BJP brought people from Gujarat, Assam and Maharashtra to "spread poison among the tribals, Dalits, backward classes and minorities and make them fight with each other".
"Forget about society, these people work to break families and parties. They poach MLAs. Money is such a thing that it doesn't take long for politicians to move here and there," he said.
Notably, Champai Soren left for Delhi on Sunday, amid speculations that he is likely to join the BJP, sources said.
A close associate of Champai Soren claimed that the former chief minister left for the national capital from Kolkata.
Soon after landing in Delhi, the JMM leader told reporters that he hadn't met any BJP leader and was in the national capital on a "personal" visit.
Hemant Soren also said that the assembly elections in Jharkhand are due this year but the poll schedule would be "decided by the opposition party in the state, not by the Election Commission".
"It seems the Election Commission is no longer a constitutional institution, as it has been occupied by BJP people," he alleged.
"I challenge them (BJP) that if the assembly elections are held today, they will be wiped out from Jharkhand tomorrow," the chief minister said.
