Uncertainty prevails in the BJP over who would be the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in House at the time when two of the senior BJP leaders’ in House sitting adjacent to the vacant chair of Leader of Opposition (LoP).
At the time when three senior BJP State leaders including outing 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.
Buzz continued in the BJP that its Central leadership is in talks with JVM chief Babulal Marandi over merging his party with the BJP after which Marandi will be appointed leader of the BJP legislative fold and the leader of the Opposition. A senior state BJP leader requesting anonymity said, “The Central leadership of party is in talks with Marandi either merging his party or if he comes alone than also he is very much welcome.” The BJP leader claimed that Marandi is very much ready to join the party, but two of his legislators are reluctant to join the saffron party delaying the merger of JVM with BJP.
Apart from vacant chair of leader of opposition (LoP) in just concluded special Assembly session, the other indication that party is planning to appoint an outsider as leader of opposition is that Marandi has dissolved the executive committee of JVM and put on hold the formation of new team till January 14.
Sources said that it will be win-win situation for both BJP and Marandi, as after the Assembly election debacle, BJP has been looking for a tribal face in Jharkhand with an appeal in Santhal region. Sources said that for Marandi too it will be rehabilitation for him as despite all efforts his party managed to win only three seats. The JVM (P) in the just concluded Assembly election won Dhanwar, Poraiyahat and Mandar seats, but in later two seats personnel charisma of candidate was more important than the party which they belong.
Till now, leaders from both BJP and JVM camp have denied the theory of merger of two parties publicly. Mandar MLA, Bandhu Tirkey said, “The talks about merger of BJP with JVM is rumour without any substance. We have fought against BJP and in such situation we will never join hands with BJP.”
Marandi is a former RSS leader who resigned from his job as a teacher to work for the organisation.
In 2000, he became the first chief minister of newly created state of Jharkhand. But he had to resign in 2003 and Arjun Munda became the chief minister. In 2006, Marandi formed his own party and since then he has been trying to find a base in the State. In 2009, his party won eleven Assembly seats, which were reduced to eight in 2014. In 2019, his party managed to win only three seats.