Ranchi: Jharkhand’s ruling party, the BJP, might have heaved a sigh of relief when Member of Parliament from Koderma, Ravindra Rai stood next to Annapurna Devi, as she filed her nomination. However, within a fortnight the cracks are evident. Today, Rai’s elder brother Surendra Rai resigned from the BJP.
Significantly, Surendra chose to resign on a day, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in Jharkhand. On Tuesday evening the PM had organised a roadshow in Ranchi. After a night halt in Jharkhand’s capital, he addressed a rally in Lohardagga.
Surendra, an advocate, had been associated with the party since the ’80s and was state vice-president of BJP’s Kisan Morcha. However, his resignation was not simple as he made a major allegation of corruption on Chief Minister Ragubhar Das.
In his letter, Surendra wrote, “Raghubar Das government is the most corrupt government in Jharkhand history. Only after CMO’s direction, the decision gets taken on tenders. And no tender get(s) passed without 8 per cent commission.”
Surendra also questioned how the party gave a ticket to Annapurna Devi, who used to abuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi and how his brother Ravindra, who played a key role in helping BJP win 12 out of 14 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha election to form government in the centre.
Ravindra was BJP state president in 2014, the year when BJP had won almost all the seats in Jharkhand.
He also pointed out on the alleged employment of outsiders in Jharkhand, “The outsiders (people from other states) have been recruited in Jharkhand. The recruits have shelled out the money in order to get a government job.”
Reports suggest, Surendra may join Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM).
Earlier, another senior BJP leader and five-time MP from Ranchi, Ramtahal Choudhary had left the party after he had been denied a ticket to contest the election. He now contesting election as an independent candidate.
Meanwhile, the problems for the BJP is not reducing as the party MLAs are also facing the public wrath when they were campaigning for Koderma candidate Annapurna and seeking vote.
At Bhalpahari, locals protested against Gandey MLA Jai Prakash Verma for not visiting them after winning elections almost five years ago.
Reportedly, he has also been heckled at Buddhudih for the same reason. All the time, Annapurna was present on the spot when these incidents took place.
