IN JHARKHAND, the best laid plans of even the BJP have failed to take off, with the Hemant Soren government standing strong months to go for the Assembly elections. Now Champai Soren’s appear to be unravelling.

Back in Ranchi from New Delhi, via Kolkata, the JMM veteran sang a different tune Wednesday, no longer talking of “retiring from politics” and promising a “new beginning”. Addressing supporters in Saraikela Kharsawan, Champai said he would either form his own party or will go with “friends” who respect various communities of Jharkhand.

There has been a lot of talk by Champai since he put up a surprise post on X on Sunday, claiming he had faced “humiliation” when told to step down in July by the JMM leadership after a brief stint as CM. As rumours of him joining the BJP started doing the rounds, including talk of him having met senior BJP leaders in Delhi and Kolkata, Champai said he had three options: retire, start his own party, or join another.