The BJP in Jharkhand appears to be facing a pre-electoral setback, as prominent Santhal Pargana leader and former minister Dr. Louis Marandi (59) is set to quit the party.
Marandi is reportedly upset over being denied a ticket for the Dumka assembly seat. Instead, the BJP has nominated her to contest from Barhait against JMM leader and Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Ironically, Marandi defeated Soren in the 2014 assembly elections from Dumka but lost to him in 2019.
Rumours are circulating in political circles that she may join the JMM, with speculation that Hemant Soren could field her from the Jama assembly seat.
"She is upset and annoyed… she isn’t answering our phone calls. She has traditionally contested from Dumka, but this time the party announced her candidature from Barhait," a senior BJP leader said.
The party has fielded former Dumka MP Sunil Soren for the Dumka assembly seat, where the JMM is expected to nominate Basant Soren, the Chief Minister’s younger brother.
Sources indicate that Louis Marandi has already reached out to Hemant Soren, expressing interest in joining the JMM. A close confidant of Marandi strongly hinted that her 24-year association with the BJP is nearing an end.
"You’re asking her to contest against a sitting Chief Minister in a constituency that isn’t her home turf. The announcement of her candidature came at the last moment. If the BJP leadership had informed her six months ago, she could have prepared. She isn’t even familiar with the constituency. I understand she may contest from Jama as the JMM candidate," her confidant explained.
When asked if reconciliation with the BJP was possible, the aide said that since the party has already announced candidates for all 18 seats in Santhal Pargana, Marandi has no choice but to quit.
Barhait has around 40,000 Paharia tribal voters, and the BJP has traditionally fielded Paharia candidates in the constituency. Marandi is concerned that Paharia voters may not accept her candidature.
A week before the BJP announced her candidacy, Marandi reportedly expressed reluctance to leave Dumka to the state leadership.
Her supporters are now accusing state BJP president Babulal Marandi of jeopardising her political career.
"During the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP dropped Sunil Soren from Dumka and fielded Sita Soren against the JMM’s Nalin Soren. The BJP apparently assured Sunil Soren that he would receive the ticket for Dumka in the assembly elections, but it seems the state leadership has overlooked the fact that Sunil Soren is unlikely to win," a leader close to Louis Marandi said.
Supporters also claim that in February, Louis Marandi approached Babulal Marandi seeking a Rajya Sabha ticket. However, he advised her to focus on the Dumka assembly seat instead.
When asked, a senior party leader clarified that the decision to field her from Barhait was made because she is considered capable of defeating Hemant Soren.
However, Louis Marandi seems to recognise that Barhait could be her Waterloo, an electoral graveyard.
Follow us
