Explain or face action: Here's why Jharkhand MP Jayant Sinha has been issued show-cause notice by BJP

BJP MP Jayant Sinha has been hit with a show-cause notice for not participating in the campaign for Lok Sabha elections.

Sinha, who is an MP from Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh, did not even cast his vote during the fifth phase on Monday (May 20), according to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

With only two phases of elections left, 430 out of 543 seats have already been contested. The fifth phase recorded 60.48 per cent voter turnout. Meanwhile, Jharkhand recorded 63.09 per cent turnout.

What does the show-cause notice say?

The show-cause notice was issued by the BJP on May 20.

It said, “You are not taking any interest in organisational work and election campaigning ever since the party declared Manish Jaiswal as the candidate from the Hazaribagh Lok Sabha seat.”

It added that the leader did not even exercise his right to vote when Hazaribag went to polls on Monday.

“The party’s image has been maligned because of your conduct,” the saffron party said.

Now, Sinha is required to respond to the notice within two days with an explanation. Failing to do so would lead to further actions being taken against the leader.

Sinha and BJP at odds?

Sinha, a BJP stalwart who has been entrusted with important portfolios including the Civil Aviation Ministry and Finance Ministry, requested the saffron party to relieve him from electoral duties.

In a statement posted on X, Sinha, son of Trinamool Congress leader Yashwant Sinha, sought a greater role in combating climate change. The leader, however, mentioned his intention to continue working for the party on issues like economic and governance.

Sinha, a two-time sitting MP from Hazaribag, has been replaced by Manish Jaiswal.

BJP also suffered another setback in Jharkhand after Sinha’s son Aashir Sinha joined Congress last week.