Just a day ahead of the big suspense over Jharkhand’s next Chief Minister is to be broken, the prominent faces of BJP State leadership were busy with hectic parleys to search the minutest of possibilities that may actualise their dreams for the biggest post of the State. Senior leaders Saryu Roy, Jayant Sinha, Raghubar Das and even the first-timer Shivshankar Oraon met the newly elected legislators and party officials on Thursday to gauge the mood of the decision makers.
The day began with Chief Electoral Officer PK Jajoria meeting Governor Syed Ahmed in the morning to submit the list of winning candidates of the 2014 Assembly polls thus initiating the process of Government formation in the State. The Governor, on the occasion, thanked the CEO and other election officials for successfully conducting the polls.
Meanwhile, former CM Arjun Munda made an announcement that he was not in the race for chief ministerial post as he had lost the polls and would keep himself engaged in party related work as a loyal worker of the party. Nevertheless, the senior leader could not disengage himself from getting into the driving mode as one after another prospective candidate kept visiting him.
Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha met Munda at his residence at around 11: 30 am to discuss “important issues of the state”. Sinha termed it an informal meeting and said that he was not averse to any sort of responsibility given by the party, indicating that given a chance he would not shy away from the top job of the State.
Party senior Saryu Roy, who has gained much attention in the party after PM Narendra Modi referred him as a “friend”, also met Munda soon after Sinha’s visit. Ranchi MlA CP Singh, who has won his seat for the fifth consecutive time, also met Munda twice on Tuesday.
The most prominent face for the CM’s post Raghubar Das though met Vikas Bharti Secretary Ashok Bhagat considered close to RSS bigwigs. Many consider the meeting crucial in the prevailing situation, while Das had already met Munda on Wednesday evening.
The top leaders also met each other informally and exchanged greetings for the party’s historic win in the polls apart from discussions on issues related to government formation, sources said.
Party seniors JP Nadda and Vinay Sahastrabuddhe appointed by the BJP parliamentary board as observers for the legislative body meeting and selection of a legislator for CM’s post also reached Ranchi late in the evening.
The leaders were welcomed by senior party leaders, including Munda, Sinha, Das, Roy and state party president Ravindra Rai. The BJP legislative body meeting is scheduled on Friday when 37 newly elected MlAs will choose their leader to be entrusted the throne of CM.