In Jharkhand, RJD turncoats may benefit in BJP list

Ranchi (IANS) The BJP is likely to deny tickets to three sitting Lok Sabha MPs in Jharkhand, taking the total number to five.

The RJD turncoats are likely to benefit from BJP's move. The BJP has already announced candidates for ten Lok Sabha seats. It denied ticket to Karia Munda, former Lok Sabha Deputy speaker and sitting MP from Khunti. Munda has been replaced by former Chief Minister Arjun Munda.

The BJP gave the Giridih seat to alliance partner, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) Party. Rabindra Pandey is the sitting Lok Sabha MP in Giridih.

The party put on hold candidates for three Lok Sabha seats - Ranchi, Koderma and Chatra - which are represented by Ramtahal Chaudhary, Rabindra Rai and Sunil Singh. 

BJP Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary has turned a rebel after his name was put on hold for the Ranchi seat. He has said he would fight as an independent if denied the ticket.

Sources in the BJP say the turncoats from the RJD and the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) may be favoured in ticket distribution. 

Jharkhand RJD president Annapurna Devi joined the BJP last week. She is likely to get the nomination for the Koderma constituency. 

Another senior RJD leader Girinath Singh joined the BJP on Thursday. BJP sources say Girinath Singh's tops the list of probables for the Chatra seat.

Neelam Devi, a JVM-P leader, had joined the BJP last week. Her name is also doing the rounds for the Chatra seat.

BJP workers and leaders are unhappy over giving tickets to turncoats and denying tickets to dedicated workers.

Former BJP state president and legislator Tala Marandi is upset that the BJP favoured Hemlal Murmu over him for the Rajmahal seat. The party awarded ticket to Hemlal Murmu who had joined the BJP and contested the Rajmahal Lok Sabha seat in 2014, but lost.