Jharkhand BJP workers irked over ex-bureaucrats' clout in party

Resentment is brewing among the BJP workers here over too much space being given to former bureaucrats in the state party unit even as three ex-IPS officials Amitabh Chaudhary, Lakshman Singh, and Sheetal Oraon joined the party Tuesday.

Lakshman Singh, former Bokaro range Inspector General of Police and Sheetal Oraon, another IG rank official, have taken VRS to join the BJP. According to party sources both have been assured of party tickets.

Senior IAS officer J.B. Tubid met BJP leaders in the party office Monday to get confirmation of a ticket for the assembly poll, say party sources. Tubid is likely to take VRS to fight the election.

Amitabh Chaudhary, another former IPS official, also joined the BJP. Chaudhary had wanted to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Ranchi but did not get a BJP ticket. He joined the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM-P) and fought the Lok Sabha poll from Ranchi seat where he forfeited his deposit. He is also president of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA).

Former DGP of Jharkhand V.D.Ram had joined the BJP and contested and won the Palamu Lok Sabha seat.

Another IAS official Vimal Kriti Singh had taken VRS just ahead of the Lok Sabha poll. There were rumours that he would get a BJP ticket for the Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat. However, he was denied a ticket and sitting party MP P.N. Singh was fielded. He won the election.

Now party sources say that Vimal Kriti Singh could be given a ticket for the assembly poll along with former IPS official Arun Oraon who had taken VRS just before the Lok Sabha polls. He was also denied a BJP ticket for the Lok Sabha but may get to contest the assembly poll. Both Singh and Oraon were left out due to opposition from the party leaders and workers.

"The BJP which claims to be a party of workers is now turning into a party of bureaucrats in Jharkhand. Bureaucrats are seeking VRS and joining the party and getting a ticket. The bureaucrats are joining the party just to take advantage of the Modi wave. BJP workers should get this benefit not the bureaucrats," a BJP ticket aspirant told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Echoing his views, a senior BJP leader said: "There are some leaders in the party who are promoting the trend of awarding tickets to bureaucrats. In the long run, the party will suffer as it is the workers who work in the field and not the bureaucrats."

Jharkhand will have assembly polls in five phases on Nov 25, Dec 2, 9, 14 and 20.