The ruling JMM faced a severe jolt on Thursday as former minister and four-term MlA from Barhet in Santhal Pargana Hemlal Murmu quit the party protesting against the leadership's 'indications' to ignore his claim over Raj Mahal parliamentary seat.
Murmu was upset after Chief Minister Hemant Soren inducted Vijay Hansda, son of late Congress MP Thomas Hansda, into the party fold, a couple of days back, apparently to field him in Raj Mahal. "I was feeling ignored and suffocated in the JMM as the party leadership did not consult him before taking such a crucial decision," he told The Pioneer.
Though the decision to induct Hansda has also ruffled the feathers of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Simon Marandi who wanted ticket for his son Dinesh William Marandi, he has tried to play safe till the JMM takes a final call on the candidates.
Murmu is likely to join the BJP, though he kept the card close to his chest. "I will go to my constituency and consult my electorates before taking any decision on joining a political party," he said.
BJP sources, however, said that the party would like to field Murmu given the fact that the sitting BJP MP Devidhan Besra is facing strong anti-incumbency. Also, the BJP does not have a leader of some standing in Santhal Pargana after Babulal Marandi quit the party. So, Murmu could be a strong face for the BJP in Santhal-dominated region.
JMM MP Kameshwar Baitha also quit the party and is seeking BJP membership. "I have applied for BJP membership after meeting Arjun Munda yesterday... I am waiting for a positive reply from them," Baitha, who won the 2009 polls on JMM ticket, said today. Baitha, who lost the 2007 by-poll from Palamau lS seat on Bahujan Samaj Party's ticket before winning it two years later, contested both the elections from Jail, where he was lodged in connection with 55 Naxal-related cases. Asked why he quit JMM which had helped him enter Parliament after he quit the ranks of CPI (Maoist), Baitha alleged, "There is no democracy in JMM." JMM spokesman Supriyo Bhattacharya reacted cautiously, dubbing Murmu's decision a hasty one. "He should have waited for the JMM's final decision on candidates," he added. The party was, however, reconciled with Baitha's move and added that the party was upset with his anti-party activities in Parliament. But then, politics in the State is set to see churnings in days to come after the BJP and Congress finalise their candidates. Independent MP from Chatra Inder Singh Namdhari, who is trying to get a BJP ticket to seek re-election is being fiercely opposed by the BJP cadres. The speculation over former Congress MlA Manoj Yadav crossing over to the BJP to contest Koderma, a seat being eyed by BJP state president Ravindra Rai has also put a section of the BJP cadres on the boil.
The two MlAs, espousing the tribal cause - Bandhu Tirkey and Chamra linda -- have already merged their respective outfits with Bengal-based Trinamool Congress. Tirkey said that several "good" leaders are in the pipeline to join the party. "The TMC is planning to contest all the 14 seats," Tirkey, who is tipped to contest Ranchi lok Sabha seat, said.
Several IAS and IPS have also joined or showed their inclination to join the BJP if they are given ticket. Now, it has to seen whether they remain with the party even after they are not given a ticket this time.
Former DGP V D Ram and retired IAS officer Mukhtiyar Singh are lobbying to get ticket from Palamau while Punjab cadre IPS officer Arun Oraon has staked claim to join poll battle in lohardaga.
Another IPS officer and Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) president Amitabh Chaudhary has already been fielded by the JVM from Ranchi.
Chaudhary, though keen to join the BJP, chose to join Babulal Marandi's bandwagon after the BJP state leadership could not offer him definite assurance to give him ticket from Ranchi.
Another IAS officer Bimal Kirti Singh, who has got VRS, is lobbying to get ticket from Jamshedpur. He first wanted Dhanbad but the leadership apparently told him there is no vacancy the Coal Capital seat being held by PN Singh.