Is jainism be considered a branch of Hinduism

No. Jainism is a distinct and independent dharma, not a branch of Hinduism.

Key points:

• It is an ancient and separate spiritual tradition with its own scriptures, teachers (Tirthankaras), philosophy, and path to moksha.
• Jains worship the Tirthankaras and follow teachings that are not considered part of the Vedic/Hindu framework.
• While Jainism and Hinduism share a common cultural milieu in India and some overlapping ethical values (like nonviolence and karma), their doctrines, cosmology, and practices are different.
• The differences are recognized by both Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions within Jainism.

If you’d like, I can point you to a JainKnowledge page that discusses the relationship between Jainism and Hinduism in more detail.