BJP leader from Jharkhand joins JD(U) in presence of Nitish Kumar
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- Category: Jharkhand Political News
- Last Updated: Monday, 08 July 2019 15:05
BJP leader from Jharkhand joins JD(U) in presence of Nitish Kumar
Following the decision to go to the party alone in the forthcoming assembly elections in four states, many political leaders of neighbouring Jharkhand, including one from the BJP, joined the JD (U) on Sunday.
Among those who joined the JD (U) of the National President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were Prem Kataruka, BJP's former state secretary-cum-spokesman, Manoj Yadav of JVM(P), Arun Mandal and Prabhat Prabhakar of JMM.
So far, as an inconclusive rule, Bihar exercises restraint in allowing JD (U) and BJP to join each other's parties.
The notable crossover of Sanjay Jha from BJP into JD (U) camp in the state was an exception. Jha, who was in charge of the post of National General Secretary, is now a minister.
Sunday’s development, viewed in the context of JD (U) turning down the ‘single berth’ offer in the union cabinet, is indicative that the party is not shy of triggering a political realignment in states ruled by its saffron ally. Jharkhand is one of the two BJP ruled states, other than Haryana, that goes to polls along with Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir later this year.
Arun Kumar Singh, in-charge of JD (U) affairs in Jharkhand, said that the joining of leaders will strengthen the party and help in providing a leg-up to its electoral prospects in the state, where voters are looking for an alternative.
That the Jharkhand state unit had already started its preparations on all the 81 assembly seats was evident from the claims of JD (U) state president Salkhan Murmu, who was pitching for Nitish-model of ‘Sushashan’ in his home state which, he believed, will usher development and also remove the friction between Adivasi, moolvasi and others, so that people live in harmony.
Their optimism for a ‘good showing’ also stems from the route faced by opposition parties—JMM, JVM (P), RJD and Congress—during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “The JD (U) is in a position to provide a credible alternative to the tribals, minorities and others, particularly after the dismal electoral performance of the JMM-Congress combine,” he said.
Backing JD-U’s more than satisfactory poll performance in Arunachal Pradesh and the strong re-iteration that it was “not part of NDA outside Bihar,” a team of Prashant Kishor’s organisation has already landed in Ranchi to conduct an independent survey to assess the party’s electoral prospects in as many as 35 assembly seats in the first phase.
A BJP leader, not willing to be named, said that such things, ahead of elections, is a common phenomenon and 'disgruntled' elements have little or no impact on final outcomes voters remain wary and recent polls have shown that they reject 'turncoats' more often than not.
Source: Hindustan Times