Proposer of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's Nomination Joins BJP Just Before Polls

Mandal Murmu, a tribal descendant of Jharkhand icons Sidho and Kanhu, joined BJP days before Jharkhand’s elections, moving from CM Hemant Soren’s nomination camp. Murmu's shift symbolizes BJP’s appeal to tribal communities, while the ruling JMM dismissed its impact, labeling BJP’s efforts as financially driven.

In a strategic political shift days ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly elections, Mandal Murmu, a direct descendant of the revered Santhal tribal icons Sidho and Kanhu, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday night. Murmu, previously one of the four proposers for Chief Minister Hemant Soren's re-election nomination, was welcomed into the BJP at the residence of Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey. The event was attended by senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Murmu expressed that his decision to join the BJP aligns with his intent to address demographic shifts impacting Santhal Parganas, a region central to tribal heritage. Sidho and Kanhu, along with their siblings, are celebrated figures for leading the 1855 Santhal rebellion against British rule, and their legacy holds significant influence in tribal communities. Murmu's association with the BJP is seen as a powerful symbolic gain for the party, aiming to expand its reach within the tribal electorate in Jharkhand.

The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) minimized the development’s potential impact. Party spokesperson Manoj Pandey claimed the BJP was using financial resources from electoral bonds to sway tribal figures, alleging that the BJP was manipulating tribal representatives for political gain. He further downplayed the impact on Soren's campaign, emphasizing that Murmu’s switch would not affect the nomination process.

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As Jharkhand gears up for its elections on November 13 and 20, the political landscape has seen intense maneuvering. This recent shift highlights the BJP’s focused outreach to tribal communities, with Murmu’s entry symbolizing a strategic endorsement.