Ranchi: The BJP has served show-cause notices to 18 leaders in Jharkhand for contesting the ongoing municipal elections against party-backed candidates, terming their actions as “gross indiscipline.”
District committees in Jamshedpur, Chaibasa, and several other regions have reportedly issued letters to more than 20 leaders seeking explanations for alleged anti-party activities.
State General Secretary Pradeep Verma has sought responses within seven days from Sanjeev Singh, Mukesh Pandey, and Bhrigunath Mahto in Dhanbad, while similar notices have been sent to Baba Baliyase in Deoghar and Parshuram Ojha in Palamu.
The party warned that failure to provide satisfactory explanations would invite disciplinary action. District units have been authorised to initiate action against leaders and workers contesting against officially supported candidates in the civic polls.
In Dhanbad, Sanjeev Singh — husband of Jharia BJP MLA Ragini Singh — is contesting the mayoral election, while the party has extended support to Sanjeev Agarwal. In Deoghar and Palamu, rebels have also entered the fray against BJP-backed nominees. Parinda Singh, contesting against the party-supported candidate in Chas Municipal Corporation, has also received a notice.
Meanwhile, the central leadership has deputed National General Secretary Arun Singh and National Minister Rituraj Sinha to campaign across Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Deoghar in support of BJP-backed mayoral candidates, intensifying efforts to consolidate votes amid internal dissent.
