Raghubar Das resigns as Odisha Governor, likely to return to BJP

Deepak Mahato

Jamshedpur, Dece 24: In a political twist that could redefine the BJP’s future in Jharkhand, former Chief Minister Raghubar Das stepped down as Governor of Odisha on Tuesday. The resignation, accepted by President Draupadi Murmu, has sparked speculation that Das might soon be handed the reins of the party in the state after its crushing defeat in the 2024 Assembly Elections.

The official communiqué from Rashtrapati Bhawan confirmed the resignation, naming Mizoram Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati as Das’s successor. However, the spotlight remains firmly on Das, as murmurs grow louder within BJP circles about his imminent return to the political battlefield.

“After the disastrous defeat in Jharkhand, the party high command is considering Raghubar Das as the man to revive the BJP’s fortunes in the state,” said a senior party insider, reflecting the mounting anticipation surrounding his next move.

The BJP’s current plight is a far cry from its triumph just six months ago, when it swept the Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand, winning nine out of 14 seats and leading in 50 Assembly segments. But the summer euphoria has since evaporated, giving way to a sobering reality shaped by tribal disenchantment and a backlash against the BJP’s divisive strategies.

The Assembly results laid bare the BJP’s decline, with the NDA managing just 24 seats in the 81-member house, of which the BJP itself secured a mere 21. The results marked a sharp erosion of the party’s tribal support base, which has long been the keystone of Jharkhand’s electoral dynamics.

The decimation was most evident in the tribal-reserved constituencies. Of the 28 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes—historically both the battleground and barometer of political sentiment—the BJP won just one: Saraikela, represented by former Chief Minister Champai Soren. The JMM veteran-turned-BJP leader switched loyalties earlier this year but failed to replicate his success elsewhere, with his son Babulal Soren losing in Ghatshila.

The BJP’s lone silver lining was Das’s daughter-in-law, Purnima Sahu, who clinched a victory in Jamshedpur East. Das maintained his legacy in the constituency while political experts were not considering her to be in the winning race till the result day.

In 2014, the BJP held 11 of the 28 tribal-reserved seats. That number fell to two in 2019 and plummeted further in 2024, with the JMM-led alliance sweeping 27 of these constituencies. The message was clear: Jharkhand’s tribal voters, comprising 26% of the population, had firmly aligned with the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition, leaving the BJP grasping at straws.

Political experts now suggest the BJP is shifting its focus to consolidate support among the 74% non-tribal population. As the first non-tribal Chief Minister to complete a full term in Jharkhand, Das is seen as a key figure in this recalibration.

Raghubar Das’s tenure as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019 was marked by both milestones and controversies. A five-time MLA from Jamshedpur East, he is regarded as a seasoned leader who could rally the party’s OBC base, a critical voting bloc in Jharkhand.

“Das’s return to state politics could signal a strategic shift aimed at bolstering the BJP’s appeal among non-tribal voters,” said a political analyst. “The high command seems to believe he’s the right man to steady the ship.”