Governing Delhi for the last three years, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), now in order to spread its wings in Jharkhand, has sent an open offer of chief ministerial position to Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) chief Babulal Marandi.
Sources privy to the developments taking place confided to The Pioneer that the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand had had as many as four rounds of talk with Delhi Chief Minister and AAP head Arvind Kejriwal; the latest one taking place only last week in Delhi.
As per the inputs coming out of the negotiations taken place between the two, the Delhi based party is ready to contest Assembly polls under Marandi in any way. “He has been given choice either to join the AAP or form an alliance of his party with AAP. In both the cases, he would be projected as face in Jharkhand for the upcoming Assembly elections,” said an insider.
While Marandi, looking in no difficulty in accepting the offer gleefully, has also apprised the AAP leadership about another coming to him from the Congress which is also looking to project him as chief ministerial candidate in the State but only on the condition of merging his outfit into the national party.
Moreover the AAP leadership has made it clear to Marandi about their strong reservation over bringing in other parties such as the JMM or the Congress together. AAP leaders comprising Sanjay Singh, Delhi MlA Sanjeev Jha and Ashutosh had met Marandi in Ranchi and discussed this along with some future programmes scheduled to take place together.
A grand rally in February has been planned at Morhabadi where Arvind Kejriwal will be present. 4-5 more such public meetings would take place with the JVM in other parts of the State.
However, the condition has placed the JVM in a quandary. Party’s principal general secretary and legislator Pradeep Yadav assured about a settled alliance in the next six months.
Hints coming out from the JVM suggest that the party is more for a “mahagathbandhan” or grand alliance in the lines of Bihar here in Jharkhand than tying knot with a single party. Yadav admitted the fact that coming together was the need of the hour in the State.
“Mahagathbandhan is the only option if we all likeminded parties want to dislodge the BJP from Jharkhand. We have been in the favour of the grand alliance. You would have seen our leader sharing dais with the leaders of JMM and the Congress,” said the senior party leader.
It is learnt that the Marandi-led party is now weighting its options keeping scenario in Jharkhand into mind. “JVM has offers but we have to evaluate going which way would be more rewarding for us. AAP does not have much presence here with negligible organisational structure. On the other mahagathbandhan would bring entire Opposition together,” said a JVM leader.
In the changing circumstances, the party is also willing to drop leadership issue coming in the way. “leadership is no obstacle for us. Where are we sticking only to Babulal MarandiIJ There are able leaders in JMM and Congress as well. We are open to it,” explained Yadav.