Meet the ‘tainted’, ‘corrupt’ leaders cleansed after joining BJP

Amid allegations of the BJP using national agencies to either silence its political opponents or poach their targets from the other side, the BJP has listed a roster of star campaigners and candidates, including several figures with tainted past, as the nation gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Corroborating the opposition's allegation that the BJP functions as a washing machine capable of cleansing tainted politicians who align with it, The Wire reported on a group of opposition leaders, detailing the cases and allegations against them and highlighting how they are now seemingly shielded from corruption charges after joining the BJP and being designated as star campaigners.

Among the notable inclusions in the BJP's fold is Ajit Pawar, the erstwhile deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and a prominent figure within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Pawar, who had been accused in multiple corruption cases related to co-operative banks and state irrigation projects, defected from the NCP last July, joining forces with the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde and subsequently aligning with the BJP.

Despite facing prolonged legal battles, including a recent closure report filed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police, Pawar finds himself prominently featured on the BJP's star campaigner list for Maharashtra.

Ashok Chavan, a former chief minister of Maharashtra and senior Congress leader, has also found favour with the BJP, despite lingering accusations of corruption stemming from his alleged involvement in the Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society scam.

Chavan's swift transition to the BJP, followed by his election to the Rajya Sabha in February, has raised eyebrows and invited criticism from opponents who question the BJP's commitment to combating corruption.

The trend extends beyond Maharashtra, with former Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal securing a BJP ticket from Haryana's Kurukshetra constituency shortly after joining the party.

Jindal, who had been under scrutiny by investigative agencies for alleged irregularities in coal block allocations, now finds himself in the BJP's camp, highlighting the party's willingness to embrace individuals with controversial pasts.

In Uttar Pradesh, Krupa Shankar Singh, a former Mumbai Congress president, has been thrust into the spotlight as the BJP's candidate from Jaunpur. Singh's transition from the Congress to the BJP, despite facing probes in a disproportionate assets case, underscores the BJP's pragmatic approach toward bolstering its electoral prospects.

The BJP's recruitment drive isn't confined to traditional political bastions alone. Tapas Roy, a former Trinamool Congress stalwart with a checkered political past, has been fielded from Kolkata North, signalling the BJP's intent to penetrate West Bengal's political landscape. Despite facing allegations of involvement in irregularities related to municipal job recruitments, Roy's defection to the BJP underscores the party's growing influence in the region.

In Jharkhand, Geeta Koda's switch from the Congress to the BJP has reignited debates surrounding political opportunism and ethical governance. Koda, the wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, who was embroiled in a coal block allocation scandal, now stands as the BJP's candidate from Singhbhum. Her move, accompanied by speculation of her husband's imminent entry into the BJP, underscores the party's willingness to embrace individuals with tainted antecedents in pursuit of electoral success.

The BJP's strategy isn't without its share of detractors, with critics lambasting the party for compromising its anti-corruption stance in favour of political expediency. Babulal Marandi, the Jharkhand BJP chief, has hinted at the possibility of Madhu Koda's induction into the party, further fuelling concerns about the dilution of ethical standards within the political arena.

As the BJP expands its tentacles across state boundaries, the inclusion of individuals with controversial past raises pertinent questions about the party's commitment to probity and accountability.

With the spectre of corruption looming large over Indian politics, the BJP's embrace of tainted leaders underscores the intricate interplay between power, pragmatism, and public perception in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.