Ranchi: Odisha Governor Raghubar Das may soon make a return to active politics in Jharkhand, as speculation mounts about his re-entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) electoral plans ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Sources close to the former Chief Minister have revealed that Das has expressed his desire to return to Jharkhand’s political scene during separate meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. However, no formal response has yet been received from either leader.
With the BJP currently searching for a strong face in Jharkhand to rival incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Das is emerging as a potential candidate to lead the party’s charge. Internal surveys and reports from BJP workers indicate that Das remains a popular choice for leadership within the state. His recent meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is co-in-charge of Jharkhand’s elections, has further fuelled the possibility of Das’s return.
If the party moves forward with this plan, Das could step down from his role as Odisha Governor to re-enter Jharkhand politics. In 2019, Das faced a significant defeat at the hands of his former ally Saryu Rai, who rebelled and ran as an independent candidate. However, Rai has since joined the Janata Dal (United), which could clear the way for Das’s smooth return to BJP’s fold.
Despite his current role as Governor, Das has maintained strong ties with Jharkhand, particularly Jamshedpur, where he has made frequent visits over the past several months. He continues to engage with local residents and take feedback, signalling his intent to remain connected with the political landscape. Das is seen as the BJP’s biggest face in Jharkhand and is considered capable of mounting a serious challenge to Soren’s leadership.
As the first non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Das enjoys considerable support from the Teli-Sahu community, which forms a significant 25 per cent of the state’s OBC population. Having served as a five-time MLA from the Jamshedpur East constituency, he is expected to contest from the same seat if he returns to active politics. Meanwhile, there is speculation that the BJP may offer Jamshedpur West, traditionally held by the party, to Saryu Rai as part of a strategic seat-sharing arrangement.
The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Raghubar Das makes his much-anticipated return, a move that could dramatically alter the dynamics of Jharkhand’s political landscape as the assembly elections approach.