Ranchi: Barely a week after controversy erupted over Giridih police’s dramatic chase of the ‘proposer’ of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Mandal Murmu, he officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Murmu joined the BJP in Deoghar district on Sunday night in the presence of Union Minister and BJP's Jharkhand election in-charge, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Assam Chief Minister and BJP co-in-charge of Jharkhand, Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Mandal Murmu was the proposer who signed on Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's nomination for the Barhait Assembly constituency. Mandal Murmu is a descendant of tribal icons Sidho-Kanho. Sidho-Kanho and Phulo Jhano led the Santhal rebellion, a historic uprising against British colonial rule and the exploitative zamindari system in present-day Jharkhand.
"First of all, I bow before my ancestors…Sidho-Kanho, Phulo Jhano sacrificed themselves for this nation…I belong to that family. We will take the initiative regarding the demography change in Santhal Pargana," said Murmu after joining the BJP. Murmu is likely to campaign for the BJP in Santhal Pargana area which comprises 18 assembly seats.
#WATCH | #JharkhandElection2024 | Deoghar: Mandal Murmu, proposer who signed on Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s nomination for Barhait Assembly constituency, joined BJP yesterday in the presence of Union Minister and BJP’s Jharkhand election-incharge, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam… pic.twitter.com/4Rhsx3AlAC
— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2024
Murmu has joined the BJP just a week after the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) had alleged his abduction, followed by a police team chasing in car and his detention. However, Murmu had denied that he was "abducted" saying that just because he was a proposer doesn't mean that he cannot travel or meet anyone.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Mandal Murmu's joining the BJP signifies that the party has received the blessings of Sidhu Kanhu and Phulo Jhano. "Mandal Murmu did not join our party to campaign for us or to get votes for us. He is not even a politician. Mandal Murmu's contribution to our party means we have received the blessings of Sidhu-Kanhu, Phulo Jhano," Sarma told ANI.
The Jharkhand Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.