Ranchi, Jharkhand – In a significant political move ahead of the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, Congress leader Manju Kumari officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. She was accompanied by her father, former MLA Sukar Ravidas, at the BJP office in Ranchi. The duo was welcomed by Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi and election co-incharge Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Speaking about the forthcoming elections, BJP state president Babulal Marandi highlighted the party's preparation efforts. "I am heading to Delhi today for a meeting focused on the upcoming Assembly elections in the state," Marandi said.
Marandi also criticized the Jharkhand government's recent move to increase monthly assistance for women from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500. He questioned the timing, saying, "They have been providing this for only three months—why didn’t they increase it earlier?" He pointed out that in 2020, the state assembly supported a proposal to give Rs 5,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 7,000 to unemployed postgraduates, but no action had been taken. "No one will trust them. People are aware of what's going on," he added.
The Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for Assembly elections in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand today. A press conference is scheduled for 3:30 pm in Delhi to reveal the election dates. The current term of the Jharkhand Assembly ends on January 5, 2025, and elections for the state's 81-member legislative body are likely to take place by December 2024.
In a recent review of election preparations, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar led a delegation to Ranchi on September 24. The team emphasized the need for central and state agencies to curb the influence of money power during the elections.
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