NEW DELHI: BJP, which uses dynastic politics as a weapon to attack his political opponents, facing allegations of nepotism in ticket distribution in Jharkhand from his own leaders and workers. Kin of several prominent leaders, including three former chief ministers, have been given tickets to contest the assembly elections which has sparked discontent among a section of the country’s leadership.
Prominent politicians who have been given tickets include:
- Meera Munda: Wife of former chief minister and Union minister Arjun Munda
- Babul Soren: Son of former chief minister Champai Soren
- Purnima Das: Son-in-law of former chief minister Raghubar Das
- Shatrughan Mahto: Brother of BJP MP Dullu Mahto
- Roshan Lal Choudhary: Brother Chandra Prakash Choudhary
- Ragini Singh: Wife of former MLA Sanjeev Singh
The BJP has also given tickets to several leaders who resigned from other parties and some who lost the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. Sita Soren, who is the daughter-in-law of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren and had joined the BJP before the Lok Sabha elections, has been given a ticket from Jamtara. Sita lost the Lok Sabha election to JMM candidate Nalin Soren. Besides, Sameer Oraon and Geeta Koda, wife of another former chief minister Madhu Koda, were also given tickets despite losing the Lok Sabha elections.
Several leaders who left other parties to join the saffron party have also been accommodated by the BJP. Lobin Hembrom, who quit JMM and is close to Champai Soren, has been given the ticket. Former NCP leader Kamlesh Singh, former Congress leader Manju Devi and Sunny Toppo also entered the BJP list.
This left many people in the BJP unhappy and angry. BJP leader Louis Marandi, who had defeated CM Hemant Soren in the 2014 Assembly elections quit the saffron party and joined JMM on Monday. Louis was also the HRD minister in the Raghubar Das-led NDA government.
Sandeep Verma, Jharkhand BJP member of the state work committee, has urged the party leaders to reconsider the distribution of tickets. “Why should Champai Soren and his son get BJP tickets?” asked Sandeep, who had signed to contest as an Independent.
Other BJP leaders like Laxman Tudu, Basko Besra, Ganesh Mahali and Kunal Sarangi joined the JMM.
However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswma Sarma, who is also a BJP in-charge Jharkhand Assembly Electionsclaim that there have been no fissures in the party through ticket distribution and some anger is natural. The Assam chief minister also denied allegations of nepotism.
“The allegation is false as the ticket was given to Meera Munda as Arjun Munda did not contest the assembly elections. Similarly, Raghubar Das’ son-in-law Purnima Das Sahu got the ticket as he did not contest the election,” Sarma said.
Himanta Sarma defended tickets for Champai Soren and his son and said it was a commitment when he joined the BJP after quitting the ruling JMM.
Interestingly, BJP is not the only one accused of promoting family in Jharkhand. JMM and Congress also have several leaders who benefit from family lineage.
Chief minister Hemant Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) topped the list as he benefited from the legacy of his father Shibu Soren. His wife, Kalpana Soren, is the MLA from Gandey and is likely to contest again. Hemant Soren’s brother Basant Soren will also contest from Dumka.
There have been several incidents in the past when the JMM and the Congress gave tickets based on family lineage.
After Simon Marandi, JMM MLA several times from Littipara, died, his son Dinesh William Marandi took his place and won the last election and managed to get the ticket again.
After the death of JMM leader and former deputy chief minister Sudhir Mahto, the party fielded his wife, Savita Mahto, to contest the Ichagarh seat in the assembly. This time, either he or his daughter, Sneha Mahto, is expected to run for the seat.
Also, after the death of former minister Jagarnath Mahto in the Dumri seat, his wife, Baby Devi, was chosen by the party to continue his political legacy. He was not only elected as an MLA but also appointed as a minister. It is likely that he or his son, Raju Mahto, will be the party’s candidate for this seat.
In the same vein, after the death of former minister Haji Hussain Ansari in Madhupur seat, his son, Hafizul Hasan, was killed by the party. After winning the election, he became a minister and was rescheduled to contest this seat.
Also, Congress MLA from Mahagama, Deepika Pandey Singh is sure to get another ticket. His father-in-law Awadh Bihari Singh had been an MLA from this seat and a minister in the Bihar government. Congress’s Amba Prasad, daughter of former MLA Yogendra Sao from Barkagaon, was elected as the last MLA and will contest again. This time, Amba Prasad’s sister Anupriya is also a contender for the ticket from the neighboring Hazaribagh seat.
Clearly, the practice of promoting family members transcends party lines in Jharkhand.
(With input from agencies)
