Three-Time JMM MLA Sita Soren Joins BJP To "Save Jharkhand", Former Ambassador Sandhu Likely To Get Ticket From Amritsar

Two known personalities joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (19 March). One is former Ambassador of India to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu and the other is Sita Soren.

Sita Soren was in Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and has been representing Dumka's Jama as an MLA since 2009.

She is the daughter-in-law of JMM founder Shibu Soren and sister-in-law of jailed former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

However, since Hemant Soren went to jail, his wife Kalpana Soren's stature in the party has been increasing which reportedly made Sita Soren uncomfortable.

It is also said that she has been neglected by the family since her husband Durga Soren passed away in 2009. Durga Soren was the elder brother of Hemant Soren.

Sita Soren claimed that Jharkhand remained under-developed despite becoming a separate state for 24 years and to develop Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership is the way.

She asserted that her step to join the BJP was to save Jharkhand and that the lotus (election symbol of the BJP) would bloom on all 14 Lok Sabha seats of the state.

BJP MP from Jharkhand's Godda, Nishikant Dubey praised Sita Soren's decision to join BJP and called Durga Soren his friend. He alleged that Hemant was trying to end Sita's struggle.

On joining the BJP, Sandhu talked about his hometown Amritsar and said that the development India witnessed under PM Modi needs to reach Amritsar.

Sandhu is likely to get ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar. Before him, another prominent leader Preneet Kaur joined BJP. She is likely to contest from Patiala.