New Delhi: With assembly elections around the corner, the BJP in Jharkhand faced internal rebellion, as party members denied tickets in crucial constituencies threatened to contest independently or join rival parties. To manage this, the BJP set up a dedicated task force led by Union minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the party’s in-charge for Jharkhand, and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Their mission: calm dissent and bring back key party figures.
Among the significant reconciliations, Potka’s three-time MLA Menka Sardar initially resigned in protest when Meera Munda, wife of Union minister Arjun Munda, received the ticket. However, after intervention from Shivraj and Arjun Munda himself, Menka decided to remain with BJP, pledging support to Meera Munda. Similarly, former MP Ravindra Rai, who was disappointed over not receiving a ticket, was appeased with a senior role as the working president of BJP’s state unit.
Some BJP leaders remain defiant
In another case, former minister Satyanand Jha Batul, upset over being overlooked for the Nala constituency, submitted an independent nomination. Himanta Biswa Sarma personally visited his residence, and after discussions, Batul agreed to withdraw. Leaders like Missir Kujur and Kamlesh Ram also filed independent nominations but eventually returned following high-level outreach.
Despite BJP’s success in managing much of the dissent, a few leaders remained defiant. Raj Paliwar, former MLA from the Madhupur Assembly seat, expressed displeasure after his ticket was cut, as the BJP chose Ganga Narayan Singh as their candidate for Madhupur instead. To placate Paliwar, BJP assigned Lakshmikant Vajpayee, Jharkhand BJP’s organisational head and national vice president, to intervene.
While the BJP managed to appease numerous disgruntled leaders, over half a dozen leaders have chosen to rebel and contest against the party in the elections. Among the key figures are former minister Louis Marandi, Seraikela candidate Ganesh Mahali, Jamua MLA Kedar Hajra, former Bahragora MLA Kunal Sarangi, and several others who have decided to oppose the BJP on the electoral battleground.
