How Jayant Sinha loses race to BJP’s Hazaribagh candidature for Lok Sabha

Ranchi: When the Bharatiya Janata Party released the names of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the most shocking exclusion was that of the former minister and two-time Member of Parliament from Hazaribagh, Jayant Sinha.

A holder of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Harvard University, Sinha is also the son of the former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha, who has left the saffron brigade.

Jayant Sinha had won the first term with almost a 1.5 lakh margin. In 2019, his margin grew even bigger and almost touched five lakhs—4.78 lakhs, only a thousand less than Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s victory margin. He had the highest margin in eastern India and ninth in the country.

Jayant is still the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance. He posted on X on Saturday, ‘I have requested Hon’ble Party President Shri @JPNadda ji to relieve me of my direct electoral duties so that I can focus my efforts on combating global climate change in Bharat and around the world. Of course, I will continue to work with the party on economic and governance issues (sic).’

However, political observers have a completely different view of his removal from the candidature.

Less visibility, rude behaviour

“Jayant Sinha’s visibility in his parliamentary constituency was negligible. And on some rare occasions when he used to meet people, he used to talk rudely with the visitors. He was often heard saying that he did not become a Member of Parliament for trivial issues like the work of Nali or Gali (drainage or lane-related work) or for the matter of Saaf-Safai (cleaning). He used to boast that he gives advice on finances in parliament,” said Vishvendu Jaipuryar, a senior journalist from Hazaribagh.

“Jayant Sinha had completely cut off from common men and even party cadres.” Jaipuryar added.

Sources said all these were reported in the internal survey of BJP-RSS, and it was recommended to change the candidate for the Lok Sabha.

Jaiswal brought into politics by Yaswant Sinha

However, the father-son duo remained MPs from Hazaribagh for five times. Like Jayant, who has won the seat consecutively, Yaswant Sinha, the bureaucrat turned politician, had won in 1998 and 1999.

Sources also said that Manish Jaiswal, Hazaribagh Sadar MLA, who bagged Lotus symbol instead of Junior Sinha, had gotten the first assembly ticket because of the pressure from Yaswant Sinha, then MP. The former external and finance minister had a stronghold in the party.

Garlanded killers, apologised

Meanwhile, Jayant Sinha had come to limelight when he garlanded the killers of Alimuddin Ansari, a mob lynching victim. Ansari was lynched in broad daylight in Ramgarh. In connection with it, 11 killers were sentenced to life imprisonment. Later, not only did they get bail from the High Court, but when they were released, they were garlanded by the Hazaribagh MP.

The matter got highlighted, and concerned citizens wrote to Harvard University to take action on its alumni. The New York Times also reported about it. The BJP MP then had apologised for his act.

Significantly, Pawan Singh, who was declared party candidate from Asansol constituency has refused to fight from the seat.