President of Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Amitabh Chaudhary formally joined the Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) on Thursday. His decision to join the party came after his talks with the BJP failed.
Terming his joining as a boost for the party, Babulal Marandi said that it would strengthen it subsequently. “He has been active and popular. His induction would improve the party and make it stronger,” said the first Chief Minister of the State. Chaudhary, a former IPS officer who had resigned about a year ago from the post of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), has been active in and around Ranchi for quite some time.
His intentions to join politics was very clear as besides organising mass meetings he had also called a rally at Vidhan Sabha ground some time ago. Earlier, his talks with the BJP could not materialise as the saffron party weighted caste equation in Ranchi lok Sabha constituency that went against Chaudhary. The BJP is said to have had offered him the Jamshedpur seat opposite JVM’s sitting MP, Ajoy Kumar, also a former IPS officer.
Nevertheless the JVM, which lacked a strong candidate in the constituency, welcomed the cricket boss. “He possesses a good personality and has good reputation among the people. He has given an international cricket stadium to Ranchi and been active among the people. He is also a person with determination and the party hopes
that his political endeavour would also be that much intense,” said party’s legislative body leader Pradeep Yadav. Though the party said no word about the seat to be given to Chaudhary but it is more or less clear that he is eyeing Ranchi parliamentary seat, presently represented by Congress’ Subodh Kant Sahay. BJP too has considerable support among Kurmi voters, good in numbers in the area. “The matter would be decided after the poll committee meet. His candidature is strong,” added Yadav. His entry into the JVM has come at a time when the party has made its intentions clear to field candidates on all the 14 lok Sabha seats available in the State.
