Ranchi– BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has come under fire for his remarks targeting Dalit IAS officer Manjunath Bhajantri following the latter's transfer from his post as Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ranchi.

Bhajantri has been appointed as the new CEO of Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS).

Dubey’s accusations against Bhajantri, alleging misuse of office to influence elections, have ignited widespread criticism, particularly from the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and social justice advocates.

The controversy began after the Jharkhand government announced Bhajantri's transfer and replaced him with IAS officer Varun Ranjan, just ahead of the announcement of the dates for Assembly elections.

Bhajantri’s appointment coincides with the enforcement of the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct (MCC), raising suspicions of political maneuvering.

Dubey's Allegations

Nishikant Dubey, MP from Godda, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday after Bhajantri’s transfer, accusing the outgoing DC of meeting with political leaders and influencing self-help groups (SHGs) to favor the ruling JMM and Congress alliance. Dubey’s post alleged that Bhajantri, in violation of the MCC, was using his position to sway votes through SHGs, which primarily involve women from rural communities.

Dubey's sarcastic post read: "Ranchi's Deputy Commissioner posted by Hemant Soren, is working to ensure votes for JMM and Congress through women self-help groups. How many times did Bhajantri meet the Minister of Rural Development and Secretary after the MCC came into effect? This must be investigated, and the officer should be dismissed."

These remarks were met with immediate backlash, not only from political rivals but also from civil rights activists, who condemned Dubey for unfairly targeting a Dalit officer from a humble background.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) swiftly condemned Dubey’s remarks, framing them as an attack on Bhajantri’s Dalit identity. The party, through a social media post, questioned why Dalit and Adivasi officers like Bhajantri are often singled out for criticism and harassment when they refuse to bow to political pressure.

A post by the JMM on X read:
"Why are Dalits and Adivasis always the target of such people? Manjunath Bhajantri comes from a very poor family, yet he worked hard to become an IAS officer. Is his only fault that he didn’t submit to feudal forces? Will the BJP humiliate Dalit officers every day and then clap and celebrate it?"

Who is Manjunath Bhajantri

Manjunath Bhajantri, an IIT-Bombay graduate from a rural background, was appointed as Ranchi's Deputy Commissioner in the last week of September 2024.

Bhajantri, who himself hails from a lower middle class family, relates to the problems of the underprivileged sections. As a person who had faced hardships while growing up in a family that eked out a living by selling logs in the village market in Belagavi, he has empathy for the poor. The financial constraints didn't hinder Bhajantri's spirit. His perseverance and hard work got him through the IIT without any coaching and later cracking UPSC and become IAS.

In January 2023, Manjunath Bhajantri was honored with the prestigious Indian Express Award for Excellence in Governance in the MSME (Medium and Small Enterprises) category. The accolade recognized his significant contributions, particularly for launching Deoghar Mart, a modern, multi-brand, multi-vendor e-commerce platform aimed at supporting artisans and small-scale businesses. His efforts to boost local entrepreneurship and empower small businesses through innovative solutions were highlighted as key achievements in the award citation.

Known for his close ties with Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Bhajantri previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Deoghar, where he clashed frequently with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, filing over 37 FIRs against him for various offenses.

These confrontations escalated in August 2022 when Dubey and others were accused of unauthorized entry at Deoghar Airport, leading to an FIR against Dubey. In retaliation, Dubey filed a "zero FIR" accusing Bhajantri of political bias.

Their rivalry dates back to April 2021 during the Madhupur by-elections, where Bhajantri, as the District Election Officer, accused Dubey of violating the Model Code of Conduct. Though the Election Commission reprimanded Bhajantri for delays, no disciplinary action was taken.

Dubey frequently accused Bhajantri of working as a political agent for the ruling JMM, claiming that only Deoghar, under Bhajantri’s supervision, saw multiple FIRs against him. Bhajantri, however, defended the FIRs as legitimate, vowing to continue upholding the law.