Ranchi: Former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha dissident and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Rajmahal, Hemlal Murmu, faced an embarrassing defeat even as his supporters claimed to be heading towards victory till before declaration of Lok Sabha results yesterday.
Another JMM dissident Simon Marandi, who had openly criticized party supremo Sibu Soren and his son and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, also faced the same fate. He too, had to face defeat as JMM succeeded in saving its nose by securing two out of the 14 seats, Dumka and Rajmahal.
Right before the Lok Sabha election, Hemlal Murmu had announced to break his allegiance with the JMM and declared his desire to join BJP. The BJP gave ticket to rebel Hemlal instead of giving it to former MP Devidhan Besra. Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda roped in Murmu into the BJP fold and recommended his candidature. Murmu resigned from the Assembly after getting the BJP ticket.
Simon Marandi had gone against his party on the issue of getting ticket for his son from Rajmahal Parliamentary seat. Hemant Soren and Sibu Soren tried their best to make him see reason in not giving ticket to his son, but all went in vain. Eventually Simon appealed to his supporters to work against the JMM candidates in Dumka and Rajmahal.
Following the controversy over ticket started by Simon Marandi, Hemant Soren recommended his removal from the state Cabinet. Removed from the Cabinet, Simon is likely to face axe on his membership in the JMM anytime.
