The State BJP has directed all the legislators to be present on Monday at the BJP headquarters in Ranchi for the election of leader of opposition (LoP). Former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi is likely to be elected the legislative party leader of the BJP on Monday, sources said. The election of Leader of Opposition will be made in presence of BJP national general secretary, P Murlidhar Rao who has been made the observer for election of legislative party leader.
Apart from P Murlidhar Rao, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh and State BJP in-charge OP Mathur will be present at the legislative party leader election. BJP sources say that the legislators' meeting is a mere formality. Babulal Marandi, who has rejoined the saffron party, is all set to be elected the legislative party leader.
On February 17, former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi merged his 14-year-old party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha will BJP in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders.
Marandi’s elevation as LoP also gain importance as after three senior BJP leaders including former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, former Speaker Dinesh Oroan and State BJP president Laxman Gilua losing the election, there was speculation that either Chandreshwar Prasad Singh (CP Singh) or Neelkanth Singh Munda having vast experience in party and House could be made as Leader of Opposition (LoP), but during the three day long special session of Jharkhand Assembly the LoP chair remained vacant.
Arun Singh said, “The BJP legislative party leader (LoP) will be elected on Monday in presence of BJP national general secretary P Murlidhar Rao among others.” Singh also said that apart from election of LoP, the BJP’s organisational election too be held.
After Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000, Marandi had become the first Chief Minister of the state. Marandi was seen as a leader with a clean image. He is also known for his fight against Maoists.
The Maoists killed Marandi's son in 2007 in Giridih district. Marandi as Chief Minister worked on improving the condition of roads and road connectivity, especially in the rural areas.
He, however, failed to keep the BJP's allies together, who revolted against him and forced him to resign in March 2003 leading to the elevation of Arjun Munda as Chief Minister. Marandi quit the BJP just after the fall of the Arjun Munda government in 2006 and floated the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P).
Sources said that with Marandi’s elevation as LoP the BJP will reach out to masses especially attracting tribals who deserted from BJP in last Assembly election. Marandi talking to media persons on Sunday said, “The BJP will raise the failure of Hemant Soren government especially the poll promise made by JMM, Congress and BJP during assembly election. The Hemant Soren government at present has failed to meet people’s expectations.”