SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, January 13: Working President and MP Aditya Sahu is all but set to become the next BJP Jharkhand State President, with the party receiving a single nomination for the post—effectively sealing his elevation and underlining a decisive leadership shift within the State unit.
The uncontested nature of the nomination leaves little doubt that the appointment, to be formally announced on January 14, has the backing of the BJP’s central leadership.
End of Marandi’s Dual Role
Sahu will replace Babulal Marandi, who was named Leader of the Opposition after the BJP’s defeat in the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections. With Marandi moving firmly into the legislative role, the party has opted to separate organisation and Assembly leadership—often a sign of course correction after an electoral setback.
Sahu’s elevation from working president to State president suggests continuity with tighter central control.
OBC Outreach at the Core of BJP Strategy
Politically, Sahu’s appointment is being widely read as a deliberate OBC outreach move by the BJP, aimed at reclaiming lost ground among backward class voters—an electorate that has increasingly drifted away in recent elections.
By placing an OBC leader at the helm of the State unit, the BJP appears to be resetting its social engineering playbook, with an eye on upcoming electoral battles.
Raghubar Das Question Looms Large
The move also raises uncomfortable questions for the BJP’s old OBC face in Jharkhand, Raghubar Das, a former Chief Minister who once symbolised the party’s backwards-class leadership in the State.
While Das continues to hold political relevance, Sahu’s rise suggests a generational and strategic transition, leaving open the question of whether Das will be repositioned nationally, marginalised organisationally, or deployed in a new role.
Aditya Sahu Files Nomination, Backed by Party Heavyweights
Union Minister and BJP State Election Officer Juel Oram confirmed that only one nomination was filed for the State President’s post.
The nomination was submitted by Aditya Sahu and presented by Babulal Marandi and MP Vidyut Baran Mahato, signalling a rare show of consensus within the State unit.
Sahu’s proposers included former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, Union Minister Annapurna Devi, and several senior State leaders, underlining the central leadership’s stamp of approval.
National Council Nominations Reflect Power Balance
Alongside the presidential nomination, the BJP received 21 nominations for its National Council, including senior figures such as Karia Munda, Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, Raghubar Das, Deepak PChampai Soren, Madhu Koda, Sanjay Seth, Dineshanand Goswami, and others.
The mix of old guard and emerging leaders reflects an attempt to balance continuity with change, even as the State unit undergoes leadership restructuring.
Formal Announcement on January 14
Juel Oram said the formal declaration of the State President and National Council members will be made on January 14 at 2 PM at the Carnival Banquet Hall on Harmu Road, Ranchi.
Bigger Picture
Sahu’s near-certain elevation marks more than a routine organisational change. It signals the BJP’s acknowledgement of its post-2024 challenges, a renewed push to rebuild its OBC base, and the beginning of a new power equation within the Jharkhand unit—one that may redefine the roles of several senior leaders.
