As the BJP-led NDA swept to power with a spectacular performance for second term, all eyes are now on government formation, amid speculation that several new faces will be included in the Modi’s cabinet. From Jharkhand too names of some probable candidates are doing the rounds. In Modi’s last cabinet the state had two representations, Jayant Sinha minister of state of civil aviation and Sudarshan Bhagat minister of state for tribal welfare.
Sources said that going by the Jharkhand demography and regional aspirations this time too there will be at least two ministers from State in Modi’s Cabinet. A senior BJP leader requesting anonymity said, “This time too there will be two ministers from Jharkhand in Modi’s cabinet, one tribal and other from non-tribal community.”
The BJP led NDA has won 12 seats out of 14 seats in Jharkhand out of which 11 MPs are from BJP while one MP Chandra Prakash Choudhary is from AJSU party.
Out of 12 MPs in NDA, there are three tribals—Arjun Munda from Khunti, Sudarshan Bhagat, Lohardaga MP and outgoing minister in Modi’s cabinet and new face Sunil Soren who defeated JMM heavyweight Shibu Soren.
From non-tribal face, names of Hazaribag MP and outgoing Minister in Modi’s cabinet Jayant Sinha, Godda MP Nishikant Dubey and Koderma MP Annapurna Devi and Palamu MP VD Ram are doing the round.
Sources said that while choosing the ministers, the BJP leadership will also go through regional aspiration and caste demography as by year end the State has to go for Assembly election.
Among the three tribal MPs, the name of Khunti MP Arjun Munda and Dumka MP Sunil Soren are at the top. Arjun Munda in a nail biting contest won from Khunti with a slender margin of 1445 votes. BJP and Munda especially had to face tribal ire in Khunti as tribals were against ruling party on the issue of Pathalgadi and Chottanagpur/Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (CNT/SPT) Act. Sources said that adding more problems for Munda was some Christian missionaries’ directives to vote for Congress candidate. Munda who has long political experience as he had served as Chief Minister of state is considered as BJP’s tribal face.
For Sunil Soren, the advantage is that he had defeated JMM heavyweight and party chief Shibu Soren in a similar way two decades back when BJP candidate Babulal Marandi defeated Shibu. Later when Jharkhand was formed in 2000 Marandi was made the first Chief Minister of State.
For Sudarshan Bhagat a leader who is considered as down-to-earth and always away from controversies has become advantageous for becoming the minister again.
Among the non-tribal face, the names Jayant Sinha, Nishikant Dubey, Annapurna Devi and VD Ram are doing the round. Jayant an IITian from IIT Delhi also holds the MBA degree from prestigious Harvard Business School and MS M.S. in Energy Management & Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Sinha earlier stint as junior finance and civil aviation minister is also an advantage for him.
Three times MP from Godda, Nishikant Dubey who has strong grip on BJP organization is also a strong contender. Dubey, an excellent orator has been raising state issue in Parliament. In election he defeated Mahagathbandhan candidate Pradeep Yadav which was considered as tough battle.
The name of former RJD state president Annapurna Devi who switched side to BJP months before election is also doing round.
Annapurna apart from being a woman has long experience in state politics as she had represented Koderma assembly for several times.
The name of former state DGP and Palamu MP VD Ram is also considered as probable contender. Ram said, “I don’t know whether my name is as ministers from Jharkhand. My work is to fulfill the aspirations of my leader Modi jee and people who have voted for me.”
