First Chief Minister of Jharkhand Babulal Marandi, who headed Jharkhand Vikas Morcha ( (Prajatantrik) since 2006, on Monday ended his 14 years Vanvaas as he made ‘ghar wapsi’ to BJP. Marandi, the 61-year-old leader having political experience for more than three decades, merged his party JVM (P) with BJP in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national general secretary OP Mathur and senior BJP leaders at Jagarnath Maidan.
Shah, welcoming Marandi said, “The party will become stronger with expertise of Marandi as he is one of the leaders in State who can understand the pulse of people.” Shah, for the first time publicly admitted that BJP was working on the mission since 2014 to bring back Marandi in Saffron party fold.
Shah said, “In 2014 when I became the national president of BJP I tried to bring back Marandi having RSS background in BJP fold, but Marandi due to his stubborn attitude rejected BJP’s offer. But, today we are happy that Marandi has decided to return home.” The Union Home Minister also indicated that Marandi will be given top posts in State BJP equal to both Arjun Munda and Raghubar Das.
Shah said, “From today Raghubar Das, Arjun Munda and Babulal Marandi will work together for strengthening the party at grass root level. Not only Marandi but all JVM leaders will be given respectable posts in the organization.”
Marandi too praised BJP saying that though he was out from party for 14 years but he never joined any other party. The former chief minister revealed how BJP leaders tried to bring him back in saffron party since 2006. The former chief minister disclosed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent his emissary to him with an offer to join BJP in 2014.
Marandi also said that he had joined the party without any offer and is ready to discharge any responsibility that the party bestows to him.
Marandi also said how BJP is different than other parties as the Saffron party is cadre based disciplined organization. He also supported Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) saying that some political parties are spreading wrong information about CAA especially among minorities.
Marandi, an affable, suave and soft in nature politician has been a loyalist of RSS and it was his closeness to RSS that he was made first CM of Jharkhand when it became a separate state on November 15, 2000. However, his stint as the CM could not last for a long time and he had to step down on March 17, 2003.
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.
Former chief minister Raghubar Das and Union Tribal Affairs minister Arjun Munda on the occasion welcomed Marandi terming him as popular leader. Das said, “Babulal jee fought against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) menace and he had to even sacrifice his son fighting against LWE.” Reacting on JVM merger with BJP, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said, “My best wishes to Marandi for his new innings.”
With Marandi’s home coming to BJP, the party aims at once again getting back its tribal vote bank as in last Assembly election the party’s biggest disappointment was in tribal reserved seats. Out of 28 tribal seats in Jharkhand, the BJP won only Khunti and Torpa seats.