Veteran Santhal leader and former Jharkhand Minister Simon Marandi as well as JD (U) leader lalchand Mahto have declared that they will be joining the BJP soon. A group of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) MlAs also met BJP national president Amit Shah on Wednesday in Delhi, indicating a possible split in the Babulal Marandi led party.

Marandi from JMM quota in the incumbent government has been upset with his party after his son Dinesh William Marandi was not given party ticket for Rajmahal lok Sabha constituency during the General Elections.

Marandi however, refused to give any tentative date of joining the party and said, “I cannot give you the date… But one thing is definite that I will be joining the BJP very soon.”

According to Marandi, it would not be proper for him to speak out his problems with the party in public. “I want to put my grievances at the proper forum and I suppose Assembly is the best platform for the purpose,” Marandi added.

Marandi is yet to resign from JMM and have been making anti-party remarks from quite some time after he was denied party ticket for his son from Dumka lok Sabha constituency.

The sources in the BJP however, said that they will have to wait for some time more as the decision will be taken collectively by the four member committee formed to look into the induction of MlAs and stalwarts from other political parties.

“No individual decision will be taken for any MlA or other veteran leader,” said a senior party leader. He also added that there are many more MlAs from JVM and AJSU, who are keen on joining the party hence a collective decision could be taken only by the committee, added the leader.

Meanwhile, a five-member group of JVM MlAs and leaders said to have met BJP national president Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday. Sources said that the MlAs were camping in Delhi for the past two days and there was a strong possibility of them joining the national party.