Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM’s) Jama MLA and daughter-in-law of party president Shibu Soren Sita Soren resigned from the party and membership of State Assembly on Tuesday, saying that her family has been the victim of ‘neglect’. Hours later Sita joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Sita Soren joined the BJP in the presence of its national general secretary Vinod Tawde and Jharkhand poll in-charge Laxmikant Bajpai at its headquarters in New Delhi.

The three-term MLA's decision to join the BJP is a shot in the arm for the party's efforts to boost its connection with the scheduled tribes, a community which has been the main vote base of the JMM.

More importantly, the development comes at the time when JMM is in turmoil as former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren was arrested on January 31 in an alleged money laundering case, leaving a void in the state leadership which was halted by the elevation of loyalist Champai Soren as the chief minister.

Sita, before tendering her resignation from JMM primary membership, wrote an emotional letter to former Chief Minister and JMM patriarch Shibu Soren. Sita in her letter to JMM patriarch addressed several issues where she has been left to neglect by party leadership.

“Since the demise of my late husband Durga Soren, who was a leading warrior of the Jharkhand movement and a great revolutionary, I and my family have been victims of continuous neglect. We have been isolated by the party and family members, which has been extremely painful for me. I had hoped that the situation would improve with time, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen,” Sita wrote.

She also wrote that her late husband formed JMM, a “great party”, on the strength of his sacrifice, dedication and leadership ability. However, it no longer remains so, she added. “I feel deeply saddened to see this. The party has now fallen into the hands of those whose vision and objectives do not match our values and ideals. Despite the tireless efforts of Shri Shibu Soren (Guruji Baba) who worked hard to keep us all together, unfortunately, his efforts also failed. I have recently come to know that there is a deep-rooted conspiracy against me and my family also. A conspiracy is being hatched. I am very sad. I have firmly decided that I will have to leave JMM and this family,” Sita added in her letter.

Meanwhile, JMM’s Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji termed Sita Soren’s resignation as “shocking” and urged her to reconsider the decision. Maji also said internal disputes should be resolved within the Soren family.

BJP State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi welcomed Sita Soren leaving JMM and joining BJP. Marandi said that her pain and suffering are clearly visible in the poignant letter written by Sita Soren to her father-in-law and JMM chief Shibu Soren on her decision to leave JMM. Marandi said that Sita Soren was facing harassment from her party and family members for years.

He said that there is a limit to tolerating insult. Sita Soren is the elder daughter-in-law of Shibu Soren and wife of late Durga Soren ji. Durga Soren supported Guruji like a shadow and fought in the Jharkhand movement. Had Durga Soren been alive, he would have been the Chief Ministerial candidate in JMM. But Sita Soren's pain is that Durga Soren's struggle was forgotten. And those who did not struggle are reaching the top, therefore Sita Soren's resentment is natural.

He said that apart from the activities of the party, Sita ji was also upset with the state government led by JMM. From the streets to the House, she continuously protested against the water, forest, land, water, forest, etc. He vocally raised questions on the looting of mines, minerals, sand and stones. He openly opposed oppression and corruption.