POLITICS

Why BJP fields Gamliyel Hembrom against Jharkhand Chief Minister?

To take on Jharkhand heavyweight Hemant Soren in Barhait, the BJP has fielded  Gamliyel Hembrom, a popular football enthusiast, who had left the government job as a teacher. Barhait is a stronghold of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Hembrom, known in Barhait for social service and organising football tournaments, has clearly not been picked for his winning prowess. Previously, he lost his security deposit in 2019 when he had squared off with Soren on an AJSU (All Jharkhand Students Union) ticket. The BJP’s selection of a Christian-turned-tribal to contest against the CM is surely not symbolic. Hembrom, 33, is known to have deep roots in the RSS. Also, he is helping tribals solve their problems and he became known in Barhait more because of football. Hembrom rose to popularity due to his organisation of a football tournament every year on Jharkhand Statehood Day on 15 November.

Maharashtra VS polls: BJP exported candidates to Shiv Sena and NCP?

The official count of BJP is higher than it has been declared. Reason? It has transferred some of its candidates to Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar), the factions in its camp. Officially, the BJP is contesting 152 seats and 17 of its candidates are contesting on its allies symbols. Thus, the total comes to 179. 12 BJP members joined the Shiv Sena faction, four moved to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and one candidate from the RPI quota will contest with the BJP symbol. The leaders who are contesting from Shiv Sena are Shaina NC , Murji Patel, Santosh Shetty, Sanjana Jadhav, Nilesh Rane, and Vilas Tare. In the NCP, BJP candidates Rajkumar Badole, Pratap Patil-Chikhlikar, Nishikant Patil, and Sanjaykaka Patel obtained tickets.