Sources close to Das claimed that holding a gubernatorial position did not align with Das’ political career. He expressed his desire to quit from the post and return to active politics, they said. However, it still remains unclear about the role he will be given by the BJP leadership. There are speculations that he might return to Jharkhand BJP to rejuvenate the state unit, which has been struggling since its humiliating defeat in the assembly elections. Raghubar Das was appointed Governor of Odisha on October 18, 2023, after the BJP’s loss in the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections. That defeat was largely attributed to discontent among tribal voters, reportedly caused by the Das-led government’s move to amend the CNT/SPT Acts. The BJP’s move to send Das to Odisha was seen as an effort to give Babulal Marandi a free hand in Jharkhand after Marandi merged his party, the JVM, with the BJP in 2020. Despite these efforts, Marandi was unable to reclaim power from the JMM-led coalition in the 2024 elections. Following the BJP’s poor performance in the recent assembly elections, there is a growing demand within sections of the party to consolidate support among the 74% of non-tribal voters in Jharkhand. Tribals, who make up 26% of the state’s population, largely backed the JMM-led coalition in the elections.
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