After several rounds of talks between the top leadership of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) regarding the merger of the former into the saffron fold is likely to have been put on hold due to ‘Kharmas,’ and is expected get resumed after January 14.
According to BJP insiders, the decks have been cleared for the merger, but due to the reluctance shown by some of the MlAs it has been put on hold till Kharmas, considered inauspicious according to Hindu calendar. “There is no hitch from any of the sides, but they want the party to merge after two months as merging immediately after the elections may pass a wrong message among their voters,” said a senior BJP leader requesting anonymity. “We have even agreed to their demand of two ministerial berths in the cabinet for them,” he added. The leader, however, asserted that talks are still on and the final decision is likely to be taken after the ‘Kharmas’ before the expansion of the cabinet takes place.
Another BJP insider also informed that several MlAs of different parties as well JVM are ready to change sides in case the party leadership was reluctant for the merger but, the BJP leaders are still not in favour for that. “We are only in favour of merger of JVM into the party fold as we sincerely believe that they are likeminded people,” he said. State BJP President Ravindra Rai also emphasised that there was no problem in the merger but it should take place without having any pre-conditions from any of the sides. “Once they become a member of the family, they will be as free to take part in the decisions taken by the party as any other member,” said Rai.
According to Rai, their number in the Assembly was not important; the party is concerned about the vote bank enjoyed by the JVM. “It is really praiseworthy that the JVM, after having been defeated both in Parliamentary and Assembly elections, enjoys 10 per cent of the total vote bank,” Rai added. Rai said that the BJP will accommodate JVM office-bearers within three months after the party reconstitutes its state unit.
The State BJP chief further added that they only want to give a message among the people of the state that by merging with the JVM they have made the party stronger. Since, the JVM also have similar goals as set by the BJP; the merger will be an ideal one in view of the old relationship between the two parties, Rai said.
The party insiders however, also revealed that BJP, after getting only 37 Assembly seats with five AJSU legislators is struggling hard to make it stronger in the House, so that it does not have to face a situation of pulling support from its ally in the midway. “If the merger takes place, the party will also reach into a comfortable position crossing the 45 mark to counter any sort of bargaining from AJSU legislators,” said another BJP leader. Marandi has been offered Rajya Sabha seat in case the merger takes place, he added.
Although Marandi was yet to open his cards, a faction in the party seems to be against the merger citing uncertainty of thousands of party workers working for the party at the district and block level across the state.