Amid speculation over former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren's next political move following his arrival in the national capital, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday appeared to confirm the rumors by publicly welcoming him to the "NDA family."

In a post on X, the Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises hailed Champai Soren as a 'tiger' and expressed his enthusiasm for Soren's potential alignment with the NDA.

"Champai Da, you were, are, and will remain a tiger. Welcome to the NDA family. Jihar tiger," Manjhi posted in Hindi.

This statement came shortly after Champai Soren, a veteran leader closely associated with the Soren family, hinted at a significant shift in his political career, citing "bitter humiliation" during his tenure as Chief Minister, which drove him to explore new avenues.

In a reflective post on X, the 67-year-old leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) laid out three potential paths for his future: retiring from politics, founding a new political party, or joining forces with a like-minded ally.

"With a heavy heart, I shared during the legislative party meeting that a new chapter of my life is about to begin. I considered three options: retiring from politics, forming my own party, or finding a companion to move forward with. Since that day, and leading up to the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, all options remain open for me," Champai Soren stated.

He further elaborated on the sense of "bitter humiliation" that led to his decision, saying, "After enduring such humiliation, I had no choice but to seek an alternative path."

Soren also mentioned that during a JMM legislative party meeting, he was unexpectedly asked to step down as Chief Minister, a request that deeply wounded his self-respect, though he complied without hesitation due to his lack of desire for power.

Additionally, Champai Soren pointed out that party supremo Shibu Soren's inactivity in politics due to health reasons left a void that affected the party's dynamics. "Had he been active, things might have been different," Soren remarked.

Champai Soren's poignant statements came just hours after he arrived in New Delhi, citing personal reasons for his visit. His remarks have added fuel to the ongoing speculation about his future political course, especially in light of his past leadership as Jharkhand's 12th Chief Minister.

Soren ascended to the Chief Minister's post on February 2, after Hemant Soren resigned ahead of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a land grab case. Five months later, with Hemant Soren securing bail, Champai Soren stepped down, allowing Hemant to resume his role as Chief Minister for a third term.