Ranchi (Jharkhand), October 22, 2024: In a significant political development, former BJP leaders Dr. Lois Marandi, Kunal Sarangi, and Ganesh Mahali officially joined the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The trio met with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren on Monday, marking their transition ahead of the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections.
Former BJP Vice President Dr. Lois Marandi explained her reasons for leaving the party, stating that she was asked to contest from Barhait, a constituency she was unfamiliar with, despite her long association with Dumka. “I gave so much time to the party (BJP), day and night I kept working for the people and obeyed every instruction of the party with utmost sincerity. But when the elections came, the party told me to contest from Barhait. I gave 24 years to Dumka, so how can I contest from Barhait? I know nothing about that place, but I know everything about Dumka… so I refused to contest. The party did not listen and fielded someone else from Dumka. I need a platform to serve the people, so I spoke to CM Hemant Soren, and he welcomed me,” she said.
Kunal Sarangi, who also rejoined the JMM, criticized the BJP, alleging that the party favored leaders with a “degree in corruption” and encouraged sycophancy. “I have come back to my family. This is not a rejoining but a return to my roots. When I joined BJP, I believed a national platform would allow me to serve more people, but instead, I learned that the only way to get promoted was through ‘Ganesh parikramas’ (sycophantic behavior) and perhaps even some degrees in corruption,” said Sarangi. “These are the lessons I learned over the last four and a half years in that party, and I am very happy to be back where I started my political journey.”
Jharkhand Assembly Elections:
Voting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections will take place in two phases on November 13 and 20, with the results set to be announced on November 23. Chief Minister Hemant Soren recently confirmed that the INDIA bloc will contest the elections together, with JMM and the Congress jointly fielding candidates for 70 out of the 81 assembly seats. The remaining seats will be allocated to other INDIA bloc allies, including the RJD and Left parties.
On Saturday, the BJP released its first list of 66 candidates, including state chief Babulal Marandi, who will contest from Dhanwar, and former Chief Minister Champai Soren, who has been nominated from Saraikella. Other notable BJP nominees include Lobin Hembrom from Borio and Meera Munda, wife of Union Minister Arjun Munda, from Potka. The BJP will be contesting 68 seats in alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).
Background:
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, as part of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance), contested 43 seats, Congress contested 31, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) contested seven seats. The UPA secured a significant victory, winning 47 seats, while the BJP managed to claim only 25 seats.
The political atmosphere in Jharkhand is heating up as both major alliances gear up for the upcoming elections, with the INDIA bloc aiming to retain power and the BJP seeking to make a strong comeback.
