Health Minister Banna Gupta Criticizes BJP Over Champai Soren's Defection

Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta criticized the BJP, alleging the party turned Champai Soren from a 'tiger' to a 'circus lion' after his recent defection. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended Soren's move, saying it was to save Jharkhand from corruption and foreign infiltration.

On Tuesday, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta launched an attack on the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), accusing the party of transforming Champai Soren from a 'tiger' to a 'circus lion'. This follows Soren's announcement on August 30 that he has joined the BJP.

'JMM people used to call Champai Soren a tiger, but BJP put him in a cage and made him a circus lion. The ringmaster is the one which makes the circus lion dance around, so the freedom is not present in the circus,' Gupta declared.

Gupta further lashed out at the BJP for allegedly 'purifying' defectors through what he termed as the party's 'washing machine'. 'People, including Babulal ji and Ajit Pawar, seem to become pure after joining the BJP, erasing any previous corruption,' he added.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, however, defended Soren's defection, arguing that the former Chief Minister joined the BJP to save Jharkhand from corruption and foreign infiltration. 'Champai Soren is the tiger of Jharkhand,' Chouhan remarked, lauding Soren's contributions to the region.

Soren resigned from all JMM positions on August 28, shortly after a stint as Chief Minister, and before Hemant Soren returned to the role following his bail. The state is slated for elections of its 81-member legislative assembly later this year, though dates are yet to be confirmed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

(With inputs from agencies.)