Saryu Roy (PTI)

RANCHI: Even more than BJP’s defeat at the hands of mahagathbandhan, discussions across the state revolved around how Saryu Roy , a former BJP minister, defeated CM Raghubar Das on his home ground by more than 15,000-odd votes. Roy’s victory vindicated his claims that all was not well in the ruling dispensation.

With 73,332 votes (42.57%), Roy dislodged Das from Jamshedpur after five consecutive terms since 1995. Das finished second with 33.45% votes, followed by Congress debutant Gourav Vallabh, who bagged 18,868 votes.

Roy, a two-term MLA from neighbouring Jamshedpur West, was kept hanging by the saffron party when the names of candidates were being announced. At the eleventh hour, when Devendra Singh was named the candidate from Jamshedpur West, Rai decided to take matters in his own hands. “I asked the party seniors to come clear on my status. Had they asked me to step down, I would have continued to work as a party worker. Instead, they insulted me by keeping me on tenterhooks,” Roy said.

A minister in the Das cabinet, Roy had been vocal about “ill-doings” of the government, the “dissent” responsible for the ticket snub. Roy contested as an Independent and campaigned saying Das had terrorised the people of Jamshedpur East ever since he assumed office. “Das and his family members were behaving like goons and the electorate was fed up,” Roy said.

Roy clarified his stand to remain neutral in the House. “I am neither with UPA nor with NDA. People have chosen me as an Independent and I shall continue to deli-ver as one. My fight against corruption and work for environment protection will continue,” he said.

