Ranchi: Former Odisha governor Raghubar Das returned to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday and vowed to make the saffron party ‘fighting fit’ to regain power in Jharkhand.
Das formally rejoined BJP in the presence of state unit president Babulal Marandi and others at the party office in Ranchi.
His return comes at a time when a cross-section of state BJP is allegedly unhappy with Marandi after its seat tally slipped from 25 in 2019 to 21 in the 2024 assembly polls, prompting clamours for a change of leadership.
Though Das’s comeback has triggered speculation about his role, he said he would serve in any capacity in his second innings with BJP.
Addressing the gathering after joining the party, Das vowed to come back soon to power. “We could not get the expected results in the recent Assembly elections in Jharkhand, but we need not be desperate of disappointed, we will have to fight back, we will to struggle and win back once again, and we will come back soon,” said Das.
It may be noted that Das had been appointed the Governor of Odisha on October 18, 2023. He resigned from the post of Odisha governor on December 24 last year to return to active politics after the party’s debacle in the assembly elections, in which it failed to dislodge the JMM-led coalition from power in the state.
