Deepak
In a significant twist, former Tamar MLA and ex-minister Gopal Krishna Patar, better known as Raja Peter, has thrown his hat into the Janata Dal (United), JD(U), ring. He joined Nitish Kumar’s party in Delhi on Monday, where Peter was welcomed with open arms by JD(U)’s national executive president Sanjay Jha and other senior party leaders.
Peter, a leader known for shaking up Jharkhand’s political landscape, is the second heavyweight to align with JD(U) in recent weeks, following the high-profile induction of Saryu Roy. Peter’s claim to fame is his 2009 David-vs-Goliath victory, where he stunned the political arena by defeating former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo Shibu Soren by a margin of 9,000 votes—while running as an independent candidate.
Now, with Peter’s entry, the JD(U) is positioning itself as a formidable force ahead of the 2024 assembly polls. The party’s rising clout has sent ripples through the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, forcing them to rethink their seat-sharing strategies. JD(U) is part of NDA alliance in Bihar and Centre.
“Raja Peter is no ordinary name in Jharkhand politics. His influence and popularity have always been massive. With him now by our side, JD(U) will rise stronger than ever before. We’ve demanded 11 seats in the upcoming elections, and with stalwarts like Saryu Roy and Peter, we’re more than ready to make a powerful mark,” said Shailendra Mahato, a senior JD(U) leader.
In an exclusive conversation with The Avenue Mail right after joining the party, confident Raja Peter said, “I’ve walked this path before with JD(U). My supporters, who have stood by me through my good and tough phases, insisted that I remain part of JD(U) and not experiment with a new party.”
Reflecting on his future within JD(U), Peter added, “Our leader Nitish Kumar, along with the senior leadership, will decide my role in the upcoming elections. Wherever I’m needed, I’ll give my best for the party and its success.”
But Peter’s political journey hasn’t been without turbulence. In 2017, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him under a cloud of allegations, accusing him of conspiring in the assassination of his political rival, former JD(U) minister Ramesh Singh Munda. However, in a twist of fate, Peter was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in December 2023, reigniting his political career and leaving many speculating about his future.
Son of Ramesh Singh Munda and Tamar MLA denied commenting on the development.
