The confusion over Leader of Opposition’s post in State Assembly has intensified after the Speaker’s office invited senior BJP leader and Ranchi MLA Chandreshwar Prasad Singh from BJP for all party meeting ahead of budget session commencing on February 28. However, Singh has refused to attend the meeting as BJP delegation claiming that Babulal Marandi is party leader in the House.
Marandi, who merged his 14-year old party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha on February 17 was made the BJP legislative party leader on February 24. Sources said that like last three day special session of Assembly, which was convened from January 6, in which the Leader of Opposition chair was vacant, this time also the chair is likely to be vacant.
Sources said the Speaker’s office is not in a hurry to declare Marandi as Leader of Opposition as JVM’s two other legislators Pradeep Yadav and Bandhu Tirkey have declared their outfit as real JVM before joining the Congress. Sources said that the Speaker’s office wants to clear the confusion and in this connection the speaker office is taking the consent of legal experts. Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto said, “The Speaker’s office before announcing the Leader of Opposition is taking the views of legal experts. As the issue is serious the final decision will be taken as per law and constitutional experts.”
The Speaker refused to divulge time frame when the decision on Leader of Opposition will be taken. In the fourth Jharkhand Assembly, then Speaker Dinesh Oraon took almost four years in upholding the merger of six JVM MLAs with the BJP. Challenging the merger, the JVM had filed the petition of demanding disqualification of MLAs under the 10th Schedule.
Sources said that the BJP too is in mood not to let the issue go easily, as CP Singh has refused to attend the all party meet called by Speaker. Singh said, “I will not attend the speaker meet as our leader is Babulal Marandi. The party legislators elected Marandi as their leader in the election process carried out in presence of observer.”
Former State Chief Minister Babulal Marandi was elected as BJP Legislative Party Leader on Monday. With the election of Marandi as BJP legislative party leader, who merged his 14-year-old party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) with the BJP on February 17, he is likely to become the Leader of Opposition in House.
After the elections, the BJP had not elected its Legislative party head as it was kept vacant for Marandi. The Assembly polls concluded in December 2019 and post of BJP Legislative party leader remained vacant for two months.