The All Jharkhand Students Union (Ajsu), a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, is apparently unhappy over the induction of Koderma MP Annapurna Devi as a Union minister of state on Wednesday.
The reason for its discontent was a strong rumour that Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Chaudhary, who is the Ajsu’s lone representative in Parliament, would get a central berth.
“We also heard that rumour but we can’t comment on it officially as we were not given any assurance or hint about him (Chaudhary) becoming a minister,” Ajsu central spokesperson Deo Sharan Bhagat said.
“What’s wrong if a NDA constituent expects a berth at the Centre, particularly when other partners were given the same?” asked an agitated Ajsu member who requested anonymity “because such comments may have an adverse impact”.
“They (BJP) have made MPs belonging to other partner parties from neighbouring states ministers but not from here,” he grumbled, naming R.C.N. Singh of the Janata Dal United and Pashupati Kumar Paras of the Lok Janshakti Party from Bihar and Anupriya Singh Patel of Apna Dal from Uttar Pradesh who were also made central ministers on Wednesday.
The rumour about Chaudhary becoming a minister gained ground because the BJP had left the Baghmundi Assembly seat in Purulia district for the Ajsu in the recent Bengal Assembly election.
But a section of political observers felt the BJP would not offer a central berth to the Ajsu because it had fought the 2019 Assembly election in Jharkhand independently, despite fighting the parliamentary polls together earlier that year.
Not only those from the Ajsu but even a section of the BJP are also not happy at the induction of Devi as a minister, according to JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya.
“I’ve been receiving calls from my some of my old friends who are dedicated workers of the BJP for many years but are now frustrated after Annapurna Devi was made a minister,” Bhattacharya told mediapersons on Thursday.
“Ab BJP ka matlab ho gaya bahari jonon ki party (BJP is now a party of the outsiders),” Bhattacharya quoted some BJP workers as saying.
