Ranchi: Sita Soren, the JMM MLA from Jharkhand and sister-in-law of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has switched allegiance from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to the BJP.
Following her resignation from the JMM, Sita Soren also stepped down from her position as a member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. She had held the role of general secretary within the JMM.
"Many circumstances arose in the party; in the end, it was a matter of morality for me. So I tender my resignation as MLA," Sita Soren stated in her letter to the Jharkhand Assembly speaker.
Sita Soren expressed dissatisfaction with her treatment within the JMM, citing a lack of recognition for her contributions over the past 14 years. She emphasized her decision's connection to the respect owed to her late husband, Durgashwar.
"I had to take this decision today and the way we saw from Prime Minister Narendra Modi is touring the entire India, India's name is becoming popular in foreign countries also, so considering this, I have trust and faith in JP Nadda ji, Amit Shah ji, Devendra Fernand ji, I will get support from them and we have to save Jharkhand," she added.
In response, JMM Leader Manoj Pandey expressed hope that Sita Soren would reconsider her decision, highlighting her significance within the party and questioning her potential reception elsewhere.
Meanwhile, JMM MP Mahua Maji expressed shock over Sita Soren's defection, attributing it to ongoing challenges within the party. Despite the setback, Maji maintained confidence in the JMM's strength and reiterated support for the alliance government.
As Sita Soren joins the BJP, the political landscape in Jharkhand gears up for upcoming elections. With BJP already naming candidates for 11 out of 14 seats, the INDIA bloc is yet to finalize its candidates. The voting process in Jharkhand is scheduled in four phases, spanning from May 13 to June 1.
In the previous Lok Sabha election in 2019, BJP secured 11 seats with a significant vote share, while other parties claimed one seat each.