Dhanwar: A dramatic political cross-voting just before the Jharkhand assembly polls was the BJP’s ability to switch back independent defector Niranjan Rai who had a change of heart to cross over. A number of incidents in the storey which has always been an interest to people in Jharkhand and now in Delhi have led to this decision.
This High-stake politics is between BJP’s own state president Babulal Marandi the Dhanwar Constituency candidate while he is also the favourite CEO electoral candidate in case BJP forms the Government.
Rebel to Ally: How the BJP secured Niranjan Rai
Voters in Giridih district ‘s Dhanwar Assembly will go to the polls on 20 November; BJP is in for a contest with the CPI (ML). But suddenly the attention came to Niranjan Rai another BJP dissident, contesting as independent candidate.
It may be recalled that on Saturday Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma along with the BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had dropped into Rai’s residence to try to woo him back with the Congress. The reported, behind-doors meeting made it to over several hours, which became pivotal point in the process of BJP’s move to take control in detail before the arrival of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the region.
Rai next went with Sarma and Dubey to a helipad, where all three flew off in a helicopter, an event wagging interest from the public. After this, Dubey affirmed, “Niranjan Rai has agreed to support BJP and will come soon in war room in support of Babulal Marandi.”
The Dhanwar seat has a special significance for BJP as Marandi, a political heavy weight from the tribal area, is in the fray here. JHV was once a favourite of Marandi and he secured the seat in 2019 on JVM symbol. This year, however, he is contesting for the BJP and this is going to be a huge barometer of the party’s control in the state.
The dynamic of the constituency further complicates the picture, Muslims were the largest constituency with 24% while Yadavs comprised 9.6% of the constituency, Kurmis were 7.5% and Bhumihars 5.5 %. This makes Marandi, a tribal from the region who has been associated with Jharkhand for a long time, a major contender, but Raj Kumar Yadav of the CPI (ML), is also no less a threat.
The BJP policies have been criticised in opposition parties about their lodging political strategies.
While some leaders have praised Rai and thanked him for standing up against the Lalu fuedalism, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has condemned BJP’s attempts to poach on Rai saying that it is ‘money and power politics.’ JMM accused BJP of making baseless allegations for a panic button has been pressed fearing a defeat for the BJP in the Dhanwar. They will make it possible for Babulal Marandi to be voted defeat.”
That JMM has put up a marginal candidate in Dhanwar is pretty evident but the party has come out in support of CPI (ML) thus demonstrating the anti-BJP consolidation of all opposition parties in the region.
This year the electoral war has intensified on Dhanwar assembly seat and now BJP has even more at risk than earlier. Since Marandi, the face of the party, has possibilities of becoming Chief Minister, saffron’s Lok Sabha constituency is leaving no stone unturned. The next days will tell whether all of the BJP’s calculations were successful or whether the opposition holds more power.