Ranchi: After a humiliating loss in the 2024 assembly elections, the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning a major organisational change in Jharkhand. As part of this plan, former Odisha Governor Raghubar Das returned to the Jharkhand BJP on 10 January 2025. In politics, anything is possible—situations change every moment, and the correct step at the correct time decides the success of a leader.
Despite his return to the party over a month ago, Das remained without a role. But he was still in touch with important leaders. At last, the BJP parliamentary board, in a calculated move, named Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi as the legislative party leader. The decision was made in the presence of central observers, such as Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and MP Dr K. Laxman. As a result, Marandi will now be the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly.
This change has raised the question of whether Marandi will hold both roles. Sources have said that the BJP leadership is set to hand over the leadership of the state unit to Raghubar Das, a former Jharkhand Chief Minister, former BJP National Vice President, and a senior OBC leader.
Political analysts suggest that Marandi’s appointment as the legislative party leader is a calculated step toward Das’s elevation as state BJP chief. The party is likely to prioritise OBC and ST leaders for key roles while entrusting general categories or SC legislators with positions such as chief whip.
Most political pundits interpreted Raghubar Das’s sudden appointment as Odisha Governor in October 2023 as the pinnacle of his active political life. But in the 2024 Assembly elections, his daughter-in-law, Purnima Das Sahu, fought from his stronghold Jamshedpur East constituency and won, ensuring his political legacy.
On 24 December 2024, Das’s resignation as Odisha Governor set off political chatter. His comeback to active politics was made official on 10 January 2025, when he rejoined the BJP at the party’s Jharkhand headquarters.
Though he has no official role at present, sources indicate that a big organisational overhaul is in the works after Holi, which could put him at the head of the Jharkhand BJP.
Raghubar Das: A Journey Through Politics
Born on 3 May 1955 in Jamshedpur, Raghubar Das did his matriculation from Bhalubasa High School and studied science from Jamshedpur Cooperative College, subsequently obtaining a law degree from the institution. He started working as an employee of Tata Steel before entering the political arena.
Das was an active participant in the JP Movement in 1974–76 and was jailed under the Emergency. He became a member of the Janata Party in 1977 and a founder member of the BJP in 1980, where he attended its first national convention. His party positions changed, and he held district vice president and general secretary of Jamshedpur Mahanagar BJP.
Das fought and won the seat of Jamshedpur East in 1995 to join the Bihar Assembly. After the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, he was the Labour Minister in the government headed by Babulal Marandi and then was given the portfolios of Finance, Urban Development, and Building in Arjun Munda’s cabinet in 2005. He was Jharkhand’s Deputy Chief Minister between 2009 and 2010.
Between 28 December 2014 and 28 December 2019, Das became the first non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand to serve a complete five-year term. He was re-elected as an MLA from Jamshedpur East five times in a row from 1995 to 2014.
Named Odisha’s Governor on 18 October 2023, Das quit from the role on 24 December 2024 prior to rejoinging the BJP on 10 January 2025. While the party readies itself for a change in leadership in Jharkhand, everyone’s attention is riveted on if Das will return to power or if another OBC leader would become the state BJP chief.
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