Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has recently made a startling claim, alleging a "honey trap" conspiracy was orchestrated against Champai Soren, a Jharkhand Minister, during the lead-up to the Jharkhand elections. Sarma, who has been a vocal figure in Jharkhand politics, asserted that the Jharkhand government spied on Soren during his visits to New Delhi.

According to Sarma, two sub-inspectors from the Jharkhand Police were allegedly tracking Soren for approximately five months. These officers were later apprehended in a Delhi hotel by Soren's associates, raising suspicions after they were seen taking photographs of Soren's hotel room. Sarma stated that the officers confessed to taking the same flight as Soren to Delhi and admitted to booking a room near Soren's, acting under the instructions of a "senior person" holding a "constitutional post" in Jharkhand.

Sarma further claimed that a woman was present with the sub-inspectors in the hotel, leading him to suspect a "honey trap" attempt. He also raised concerns about potential phone tapping. Sarma criticized the Jharkhand government, questioning whether such actions align with the Indian Constitution and asking if Soren was being treated as a "naxal or extremist". Babulal Marandi, BJP state president, has called for a judicial investigation by a sitting High Court judge into the matter and demanded the immediate suspension of the involved police officials.

The allegations have emerged in a politically charged atmosphere. Champai Soren, subsequent to these events, resigned from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and is expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Soren cited dissatisfaction with his former party and concerns over tribal rights as reasons for his departure. He also highlighted the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration in Santhal Pargana, expressing his belief that the BJP is better equipped to address such concerns.

These developments occurred against a backdrop of political maneuvering in Jharkhand. Sarma himself has been actively involved in the state's politics, with previous reports of him attempting to influence the outcome of assembly elections. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has accused Sarma of using the "beef ban conspiracy" in Assam to divert attention from his party's defeat in the Jharkhand elections. Notably, the JMM-led alliance secured a victory in the Jharkhand elections, winning 56 seats in the 81-member House.

Sarma, who served as the BJP's co-in-charge for the Jharkhand polls, stated that he had "never claimed" that the BJP would win the assembly elections in Jharkhand. He emphasized the importance of addressing infiltration in the state, describing it as a "constitutional duty".

The alleged "honey trap" incident and the subsequent political fallout have added another layer of complexity to the political landscape of Jharkhand. The accusations have triggered calls for investigations and have intensified the ongoing political rivalry between the BJP and the JMM-led government.