Hope he changes his mind soon: J'khand BJP leader on Saryu Rai going solo in state polls

In an interview with ETV Bharat, BJP state treasurer Mahesh Poddar expressed hope over senior BJP leader and Jharkhand minister Saryu Rai withdrawing his decision to contest as an Independent candidate taking on chief minister Raghubar Das from his constituency of Jamshedpur (East).

Jharkhand: With senior BJP leader and Jharkhand minister Saryu Rai announcing on Sunday that he will contest as an Independent candidate taking on chief minister Raghubar Das from his constituency of Jamshedpur (East), BJP state treasurer Mahesh Poddar said that the party is hopeful of Rai changing his mind over the next few days.

"There is still time for the poll to start and I believe that he may change his mind in due course of time. He has been a prominent leader in the party. He could be upset with the fact that the party hasn't announced his candidacy but I feel that things might change, " Poddar told ETV Bharat.

He added, "But if still chooses to contest as an independent, it would be saddening for the party."

On speculations running rife that the party chose not to give him a ticket because he has been critical of the BJP-led state government, Poddar said, "Party is very particular when it comes to nominating candidates for polls, many things are taken into consideration. These decisions are taken by the high-ranking leaders of the party and I don't feel it's appropriate for me to comment on it any further."

The Rajya Sabha MP added, "I would like to stress on the fact that it is not necessary for the party to issue tickets to each of its members."

On former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led opposition coalition's chief ministerial candidate Hemant Soren asking the BJP-led NDA to support Rai from both East and West constituencies, Poddar said, "Hemant is saying all this out of sheer anger towards BJP. He is simply trying to take advantage of the situation. I strongly believe that Rai would think twice before joining hands with him."

Saryu Rai, who is the state minister for food and supply, has often put his own BJP-led government in the dock, had given a hint about his next course of action on Saturday.

Rai had bought nomination forms for his seat of Jamshedpur (West) and Das’ Jamshedpur (East) constituency.

Saryu Rai late on Sunday night announced in Jamshedpur that he would fight only from Jamshedpur (East) seat against the CM and not against the BJP candidate from Jamshedpur (West) seat where the party has now fielded Devendra Singh.

The central leadership of the BJP is yet to declare a candidate for the Jamshedpur (West) even though the deadline for filing the nomination paper for the seat ends on Monday. The seat goes to polls in the second phase of voting on December 7.

The 68-year-old politician from Bihar’s Buxar has been opposing some of the decisions taken by the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party government alleging irregularities off and on, often putting him in confrontation with the senior leadership.

Rai has filed a petition against the state’s mining department, state advocate general, Moharda water project and questioned the drainage and sewerage project by Singapore-based Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd in the state capital of Ranchi.