With the announcement of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha senior leader and former Chief Minister Champai Soren that he is joining the BJP on August 30, the BJP state chief Babulal Marandi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Tuesday.

According to reports, the Jharkhand BJP chief and former Chief Minister Marandi was upset with the decision of induction of Champai Soren into the party. Reportedly, he also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah too.

After meeting with the Prime Minister in the national capital, the Jharkhand BJP chief shared a post on X. He said in Hindi: “Today I had a courtesy meeting with the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The company and guidance of the respected Prime Minister always provide new energy and inspiration for public service.”

Prior to his departure, Marandi informed reporters that Soren would be welcomed into the BJP, stating, “If he is joining the party, we will welcome him. There’s no doubt about it.”

Assam Chief Minister and the party’s Jharkhand in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 26 announced that Champai Soren will join the BJP on August 30. Sarma had earlier also invited Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to join the BJP.

Ending all the speculation, Soren on Tuesday stated that he along with his son Babu Lal Soren is going to join the BJP on August 30.

In a post on X, Soren said: “I have decided to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, expressing faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Your cooperation is expected in this new chapter of struggle for the issues and rights of the tribals, natives, Dalits, backward classes, poor, laborers, farmers, women, youth and common people of Jharkhand. “

Speaking to a reporter today on Champai joining the saffron party, the BJP leader Sita Soren said: “Earlier all the leaders in the JMM party were connected but today the situation is not such that every leader is respected. If he was given respect or made the Chief Minister, he should have been allowed to remain the Chief Minister.”

She said that he was insulted and that could not be tolerated by him. Champai Soren did not say anything against the party and rather he was with the party in every situation but such a situation arose that he took this decision, the BJP leader added.

As Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir is set to kick off next month, the BJP on Tuesday released its third list of 29 more candidates for second and third phases, taking to 45 the number of seats for which it has announced its nominees.

The BJP released a list of 10 candidates for the second phase and 19 candidates for the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir elections.

The party has fielded Devender Singh Rana from Nagrota and named Satish Sharma as its candidate from Billawar, which was represented by former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh in the last assembly elections held in 2014.

The BJP has made one change from the now-rescinded list, which was put out on Monday, as it has named Baldev Raj Sharma from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat in place of Rohit Dubey. All other names are same for the same set of constituencies, announced yesterday before being withdrawn.

The BJP has so far not named its nominee for Nowshera, which was represented in 2014 by its current state president Ravinder Raina, and Gandhinagar, from where its another senior leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta was elected in the last elections.

Several candidates across parties filed their nominations today for a fight on 90 seats in the upcoming Assembly election in the Union Territory.

Arshid Bhat, a BJP candidate from Rajpora Assembly constituency, said when regional parties were in power in the UT, the most number of backdoor appointments happened in Pulwama. Due to this, there’s a frustration and insecurity in educated youth, he added. “We are not contesting against any individuals, we are fighting against ideas”, he said.

After filing her nomination from Bijbehara constituency today, PDP leader Iltija Mufti addressed a gathering and said there are several issues in Jammu and Kashmir including unemployment and drugs. She wondered about the number of liquor shops that have been opened in the Union Territory.

“Even after obtaining four degrees, you people are sitting at home. Do you want your future to look like this? I ensure you that we will resolve the issue of unemployment. God willing and if you all will be with me, I will be with you like a sister and not like an MLA”, she said.

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which has a 90-member assembly, is going to polls in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting will be on October 4.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and insights from his recent visit to Ukraine, while reiterating India’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.

The Prime Minister, in a post on X, said that he spoke with Putin and discussed the measures to further strengthen Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. PM Modi added that he shared his insights from the recent visit to Ukraine. He also reiterated India’s firm commitment to support an early, abiding, and peaceful resolution of the conflict.

On Monday, PM Modi briefed US President Joe Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine and conveyed India’s full support for the early return of peace to the region through dialogue and diplomacy.

The Prime Minister’s Office said Modi briefed Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine. “While discussing the situation in Ukraine, PM Modi briefed President Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine,” it said.

“Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden on phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated India’s full support for early return of peace and stability,” Modi said in a post on X.

According to a government statement, the Prime Minister remembered his successful visit to Russia last month to participate in the 22nd India-Russia Bilateral Summit.

The two leaders reviewed progress on several bilateral issues and discussed measures to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. They also exchanged views on a range of regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The two leaders shared their perspectives on the current Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Prime Minister discussed insights from his recent visit to Ukraine. He emphasised the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and genuine engagement among all involved parties to achieve a lasting and peaceful resolution of the conflict.