Jharkhand Assembly Elections: Ahead of the upcoming state assembly polls, former BJP leaders Dr Lois Marandi, Kunal Sarangi, and Ganesh Mahali joined Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Monday and met CM Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren.

Dr Loise Marandi was the former BJP Vice President from the state and joined Hemant Soren’s party after she was denied a ticket from her home constituency, Dumka, and was asked to contest the election from Bahrai. Meanwhile, Kunal Sarangi cited his struggles in getting promotion as one of the reasons to exit the saffron party.

“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 election from Barhait. 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…,” ANI quoted Dr Lois Marandi as saying.

Expressing her disappointment with the saffron party after being denied Dumka constituency, Dr Lois Marandi said, “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 at most sincerity but when the elections came, party told me to contest from Barhait.”

Sarangi says promotion in BJP is possible if one has ‘degrees in corruption’

Ex-BJP leader Kunal Sarangi joined the JMM party after he failed to get any opportunity to grow and perform in the BJP. Sarangi told ANI that he had returned to JMM after he was disappointed with BJP because of ‘corruption and sycophancy’.

“I have come back to my family, it is not a rejoining because this was the platform which was 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 had joined BJP, I went with a 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, in order to get promoted…is how many ‘Ganesh parikramas’ you do every day and absolute sycophancy…perhaps you also need to have few degrees in corruption,” ANI quoted Sarangi as saying.

“So these are the learnings that I have received in the last four and half years stay in that party and I am very happy that I have retured to where I started my politcial journey from,” he added.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, who recently switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has accused the Hemant Soren-led government of jeopardizing his safety by withdrawing all security vehicles assigned to him.

Former Chief Minister Champai Soren, previously with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), labeled the move as a “political conspiracy” intended to intimidate him.

“The Jharkhand government withdrew all security vehicles assigned to me, putting my life at risk, under a political conspiracy. I am not afraid of this move. The people of Jharkhand would provide security to me,” he asserted in an interview with PTI.

Champai Soren emphasized that he has always remained true to his values and believes the electorate will respond decisively against the JMM-led coalition in the upcoming assembly polls.

In response to Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren’s accusations that the BJP is “buying” political leaders, Champai stated, “No one can dare buy me. I have made crystal clear the circumstances behind leaving JMM.” His decision to join the BJP stems from feelings of “humiliation” and “disrespect” he claims to have experienced within the JMM.

Hemant Soren Accuses BJP of Divisive Tactics

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has launched a scathing critique of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), likening them to “rats” undermining communal harmony in Jharkhand for electoral gain.

Speaking at a rally in Bhognadih, Hemant Soren alleged that the BJP is intentionally fostering discord between Hindu and Muslim communities, particularly highlighting the involvement of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

“RSS is invading the state like rats and destroying it. Chase such forces away when you see them entering your villages with ‘handia’ and ‘daru’ (locally brewed liquor)… They want to create communal disturbances and tension ahead of elections for political gains,” Soren declared during the rally, which he addressed virtually from Ranchi.

Hemant Soren warned of increasing provocations, such as throwing meat into temples and mosques, characterizing the BJP as a party primarily serving traders and industrialists. His comments seem directed at Champai Soren’s recent defection, which he views as part of the BJP’s strategy to manipulate local politics for its agenda.