Former Deputy Superintendent of Police Navneet Hembrom has officially filed his nomination as a BJP candidate for the Maheshpur constituency in Jharkhand, just hours before the deadline on October 29. This follows a protracted battle to secure his resignation from the Jharkhand Police, which was only approved on October 28 after intervention from the Jharkhand High Court and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Hembrom’s name appeared in the BJP’s first candidate list released on October 19, but he faced delays due to the state government’s non-acceptance of his resignation filed on June 15. As per Rule 808 of the Jharkhand Police Manual, police officers must provide two months’ notice for resignation, but Hembrom’s case was complicated by political considerations surrounding his candidacy.
Sources indicate that Hembrom sought his resignation multiple times but received no response from the JMM-led government. Frustrated, he approached the high court in August, which mandated the Inspector General of Police to expedite the process. Despite the court’s directive, his resignation was not finalized until shortly before the nomination deadline, prompting him to file a contempt plea on October 18.
On October 25, during a court hearing, the state government claimed the resignation was pending approval from Chief Minister Hemant Soren. After Hembrom escalated his grievance to the ECI, the government finally accepted his resignation, allowing him to file his nomination just hours before the cutoff.
In a statement, Hembrom expressed relief, saying, “I have filed the nomination and now I want to focus on the campaign.”
Political analysts note that Hembrom’s situation highlights the intense pressure the JMM faces in the lead-up to the elections, especially as he prepares to challenge two-time JMM MLA Stephen Marandi, who previously defeated the BJP candidate by a substantial margin in 2019. An insider from the government remarked, “The JMM seems desperate to maintain its hold, which is evident in the hurdles Hembrom faced.”
As the campaign heats up, the Maheshpur constituency will be a key battleground in the upcoming elections.
(Input from the Agencies)
