Bhubaneswar Dec 25: Raghubar Das, the current Governor of Odisha, is reportedly seeking to return to active politics after expressing his desire to step down from his gubernatorial position, sources close to him said on Thursday, as per The New Indian Express.
Das, who took on the role as Governor of Odisha in October 2023, is believed to have found the position at odds with his political career. His move to resign has raised speculation about a potential return to Jharkhand, where he could work to rejuvenate the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has faced significant challenges following its recent electoral defeat.
Since the BJP’s crushing loss in the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections, there has been increasing internal pressure to revive the party’s fortunes in the state, especially after its failure to regain control from the JMM-led coalition. The party has been particularly focused on consolidating its base among non-tribal voters, who make up 74% of the state’s population. The tribal demographic, which accounts for 26%, largely supported the JMM coalition in the recent polls.
Das, a former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, was appointed Governor of Odisha after the BJP’s loss in the 2019 Assembly elections, which was attributed to discontent among tribal voters. This unrest was reportedly driven by the Das-led government’s controversial amendment of the CNT/SPT Acts, which critics claimed marginalized tribal interests.
The decision to send Das to Odisha was part of a broader BJP strategy to give greater control to Babulal Marandi, the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), who had merged his party with the BJP in 2020. Despite these efforts, Marandi’s attempts to reclaim power from the JMM-led coalition were unsuccessful in the 2024 elections.
While the exact details of Das’s next political role remain unclear, sources within the BJP suggest that his return to Jharkhand could be crucial in rebuilding the party’s base, particularly among the non-tribal voters. These voters have become increasingly important for the BJP’s future prospects in the state.
The BJP’s defeat in the 2024 elections, coupled with its failure to effectively address the concerns of tribal voters, has led to growing calls for a strategic shift. Party leaders are now focusing on improving outreach to non-tribal communities, which could play a decisive role in future elections.
As speculation about his future continues to build, it remains to be seen how Raghubar Das’s potential return to active politics could reshape the BJP’s strategy in Jharkhand.
