‘Dejected and rejected’: BJP plays down reports of some leaders joining JMM ahead of polls

RANCHI: In response to some BJP leaders, including Lois Marandi and Kunal Sarangi, leaving the party to join the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo described them as “dejected and rejected” individuals seeking opportunities elsewhere.

He defended the BJP’s strength, stating that while only a few among its vast cadre get to contest elections, the party remains focused on development. Shah Deo emphasised that their departure does not diminish the BJP’s commitment to the state’s progress.

“These dejected and rejected people are joining (other parties), those who did not get tickets in the BJP. There are crores of workers in the BJP, and only a few of them get the opportunity to contest elections. Some of them were fortunate to have been MLAs at one point in time or have contested elections. They were given an opportunity by the party; still, if such ungrateful people are going to other parties, then it means it is more important for them to be MLAs. They have forgotten that the BJP can develop this state”, Deo said.

He added, “BJP is a cadre-based party. The arrival and departure of people keep happening in a cadre-based party. The ultimate soldier is the cadre who contests elections from booth level to higher. Candidates are decided by the CEC; the remaining battle is fought by workers. Our workers are still intact”.

On Monday, after joining the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), former BJP leaders Lois Marandi, Kunal Sarangi, and Ganesh Mahali met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren. Speaking to ANI after joining the JMM, former BJP Vice President Lois Marandi said that she did not want to contest the assembly polls from Barhait, as she had dedicated 24 years to Dumka; however, the BJP did not listen to her.

“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 the election from Barhait? I know nothing about that place, but I know everything about Dumka… so I refused to contest the election from Barhait. The party did not listen and fielded someone else from Dumka… I need a platform to serve the people… I spoke to CM Hemant Soren, and he welcomed me”, Dr Lois Marandi said.

Former BJP leader Kunal Sarangi, who also joined the JMM, alleged that if a leader wants to get promoted in the BJP, then he or she must have “degrees in corruption”.

Kunal Sarangi said, “I have come back to my family. It is not a rejoining because this was the platform given to me by CM Hemant Soren, which offered me an opportunity to enter Jharkhand politics and serve people. Now I have returned because when I joined the BJP, I went with the thought that perhaps through a national platform, I would get to serve more people. But contrary to that, the only parameter that they have is, to get promoted, is how many ‘Ganesh parikramas’ you do every day and absolute sycophancy. Perhaps you also need to have a few degrees in corruption. So these are the learnings that I have received in the last four and a half years in that party, and I am very happy that I have returned to where I started my political journey from,” he added.

Voting in Jharkhand will be held in two phases — November 13 and 20. Votes will be counted on November 23.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that the INDIA will contest the Jharkhand Assembly polls together, with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress contesting 70 of the 81 seats in the state assembly. Hemant Soren stated that the remaining seats will be contested by other parties in the INDIA, with ongoing talks with the RJD and Left parties. (ANI)