Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Working President, Manas Sinha, resigned from the Congress on Monday and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in a move seen as a significant shift in state politics.
Sinha was welcomed into the BJP by Jharkhand BJP Working President, Ravindra Kumar Ray, at the state party office in Ranchi, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also present.
Expressing discontent with the Congress, Sinha told IANS, "I dedicated 27 years to the party, but my efforts were unrecognised. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I have joined the BJP unconditionally and am ready to serve," adding that his decision was not driven by a desire for any position or ticket but by a sense of neglect within the Congress.
He said, “I did not demand a ticket for myself. My contention was that this is a traditional seat of the Congress, it should not have gone to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Then I talked to my supporters and they advised me to leave the party, so I resigned."
Sinha alleged that the Congress party has surrendered to the JMM on all the seats in Jharkhand.
Jharkhand BJP Executive President and Joining Committee Chairman, Dr Ravindra Rai, praised Sinha’s decision, saying it was a crucial step for the party and the state's welfare.
Sarma added that Sinha's inclusion would strengthen the BJP’s state organisation.
Sinha had hoped to contest the Bhawanathpur seat in the upcoming elections. However, as part of the INDIA bloc seat-sharing arrangement, the seat was allocated to the JMM, which fielded Anant Pratap Dev.
In his resignation letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sinha expressed disappointment over repeated "insults" and feeling undervalued, adding, “There is a limit to tolerance.” With that, he announced his resignation from all Congress positions and primary membership.
HM Shah stresses on mapping of demographic data of people along India-Myanmar border
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the demographic data of people along the India-Myanmar border, especially in Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, should be mapped so that it can help in fencing of the border and infiltration can be stopped.
Drugs worth Rs 78 crore seized in Tripura, one held
In a major haul, the Assam Rifles in coordination with the other law enforcing agencies on Saturday seized 3.9 lakh methamphetamine tablets valued at around Rs 78 crore and arrested a drug peddler in Tripura, officials said on Saturday.
Manipur: Arms and ammunition recovered; two held with drugs
Manipur Police and other security forces recovered some arms and ammunition from different fringe and vulnerable areas and arrested two persons with drugs on Saturday, officials said.
New Maha Cabinet: Fadnavis keeps Home, Shinde gets Urban Development, Ajit Pawar in charge of Finance
Finally, the wait is over. Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday approved the portfolio allocation to the ministers as recommended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The list was released after the conclusion of a weeklong winter session.
Explained: Key recommendations of 55th GST Council meet
From reducing GST rate on fortified rice kernel (FRK) to fully exempt GST on gene therapy, the 55th GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday made some key recommendations to provide relief to individuals and businesses.
India a natural trade and commerce partner of Kuwait: PM Modi
India has been a natural trading partner of Kuwait and continues to be so in contemporary times and people-to-people linkages over centuries have fostered a special bond of friendship between the two countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar brings peace through meditation to UN headquarters consumed by global turmoil
Eighteen minutes of tranquility descended on the world organisation’s headquarters consumed by global turmoil as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar led a meditation session as a path to peace at the United Nations.
NE not just strategically important but also an epitome of nation's diversity, culture: Minister
Union Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar on Friday underscored the strategic importance of the northeastern region and said that the region is not just a geographically significant part of the country but it is also an epitome of the nation's diversity, culture, and strategic importance.