Mandal Murmu, once a nominee of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party just before the Jharkhand elections. Contesting from Barhead, Murmu’s decision is viewed as a significant loss for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The BJP claims that this move reflects a broader trend of tribal support shifting away from the JMM and toward their party.