THE JHARKHAND CHESSBOARD

In a state where the current government led by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Raghubar Das is the first since the formation of the state in 2000 to complete a full term in office, floor crossings and defections have reached new heights.

After the 2014 Assembly polls, six JVM-P MLAS had defected and joined the BJP. This had helped Chief Minister Raghubar Das to form a stable government.

Last month, four sitting MLAS quit their parties and joined the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls that begin November 30.

Sukhdeo Bhagat and Manoj Yadav of the Congress crossed the floor first. While Bhagat, a former Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president, represents the Lohardaga constituency, Yadav elected from the Darkatha seat, has represented the constituency six times and has a huge following. Both leaders had managed to retain their seats in 2014, at the height of a BJP sweep following the Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP will have to explain to its candidates who were defeated by these two, why they are not being fielded again — because, obviously, being renominated by a different party is part of the deal for defectors crossing over.

Kunal Sarangi of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, also a sitting MLA, left his party and jumped ship. Sarangi had won from Baharagora constituency and his father Dinesh was a minister in the erstwhile Bjp-led NDA governments of Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda.

An independent, Bhanu Pratap Sahi, a two-term MLA from Bhawanathpur seat, has joined the BJP as well.