NEW DELHI: At a time when the BJP is celebrating its unexpected victory in Bihar, political corridors have been buzzing with speculation about Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM chief Hemant Soren’s possible tilt towards the BJP.
The rumours gained momentum after a senior RSS functionary reportedly met a close aide of Soren shortly after the Bihar results, sparking conjecture of a potential political realignment in Jharkhand.
According to highly placed sources, the meeting was exploratory in nature, with discussions touching upon the possibility of a future understanding between the BJP and the JMM. Although both sides have officially dismissed such talks, the timing of the outreach has raised eyebrows across party lines.
Within the JMM, insiders acknowledge that the relationship between the party and the Congress has been under visible strain for months. The rift deepened further after the Congress, despite being a junior partner in Jharkhand, allegedly denied the JMM even a single ticket in the recently concluded Bihar elections under the Mahagathbandhan banner.
Several JMM functionaries believe this unilateral move by the Congress leadership has created resentment within the party’s rank and file.
Adding to the tension is Chief Minister Soren’s reported dissatisfaction with at least one Congress minister in his cabinet, who is allegedly resisting implementation of certain policy decisions and administrative directives issued by the state government. Notably, the Congress currently holds four key portfolios in the coalition, many of which the JMM had ceded earlier under pressure from the party’s central leadership.
However, despite the increasingly visible strain, senior JMM leaders insist there is no move—immediate or planned—to align with the BJP or the NDA. They describe the rumours as “politically motivated” attempts to destabilise the coalition.
Political observers, however, offer a different interpretation. According to them, the swirling rumours of a possible switchover may actually be a strategic pressure tactic by the JMM leadership. By allowing such speculation to persist, they believe Soren is signalling to the Congress to step back from overreach and allow smoother governance within the coalition.
Whether the rumours reflect genuine political manoeuvring or simply serve as leverage in coalition dynamics, one thing is clear: the power equations within Jharkhand’s ruling alliance remain fluid, and Hemant Soren appears keen on reasserting control as the state gears up for more political churn in the coming months.
Picture credit ;social media
