Ahead of Lok Sabha election is State, candidates and leaders hopping different parties continue in the State. The latest in the list is former RJD State president and four times MLA from Garhwa, Girinath Singh.
Girinath on Thursday joined BJP in presence of Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in the National Capital. Girinath is second senior State RJD leader to join the Saffron brigade. Earlier, on Tuesday, RJD state president Annapurna Devi joined BJP in presence of Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
Sources said that BJP is likely to field Girinath Singh from Chatra, while Annapurna is likely to be fielded from Koderma seat—the two seats where BJP is yet to announce its candidates. Girinath, like Annapurna is said to close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, talking to media persons in Delhi said, “Joining BJP is like home coming to me as my father was one the founder member of Jan Sangh in Jharkhand (earlier Bihar). I have joined BJP without any lust and will work as party worker. I am impressed with work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” Girinath Singh’s father Gopinath Singh one of the founder members of Jan Sangh had represented Garhwa Assembly in 1962 and 1969 and when BJP came into existence represented the same seat in 1985 and 1990.
The RJD on Tuesday on speculation that Girinath will join BJP camp had suspended him for six years for anti-party activities; later Girinath himself tendered his resignation from RJD. Sources said that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is said to be behind Girinath joining the BJP camp.
Girinath is founder member of RJD in Jharkhand (earlier Bihar). After the death of Gopinath Singh he became RJD MLA for first time in by-poll in 1993 from Garhwa on Janta Dal ticket. He has represented Garhwa in 1995, 2000 and 2005. He was also PHED minister in Rabri Devi government in United Bihar. Girinath Singh winning spree came to halt in 2009, when Satyendra Nath Tiwari then JVM candidate defeated him from Garhwa. In 2014 Assembly election too, Girinath had to taste defeat in the hands of Tiwari. In 2009, RJD made Girinath as party State president.
Sources said that as Girinath Singh had joined BJP, there is speculation that Girinath opponent and better noire and two time sitting MLA from Garhwa, Satyendra Nath Singh who is now BJP MLA is likely to join Mahagathbandhan and to contest from Chatra.
Apart from Girinath and Annapurna, another BJP leader who is likely to change his parent party is Ravindra Pandey the sitting BJP MP from Giridih. The Giridih seat this time has been given to AJSU as per seat sharing arrangement between BJP and AJSU. Pandey who is upset after he was denied ticket, expressed his resentment stating that he was not informed by State leadership before giving the seat to AJSU. Pandey is likely to join Mahagathbandhan either Congress or JMM and to contest from Giridih. The Mahagathbandhan is yet to announce candidates from Giridih and Chatra respectively.