State BJP General Secretary and senior leader Deepak Prakash has been appointed as State president of the party. BJP national president, Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday named Prakash as State president. Prakash will succeed Laxman Gilua who decided to step down from his post followed by party’s humiliating defeat in last Assembly election.
Prakash, apart from Nadda is also close to BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi, who became BJP legislative party leader on Monday. The closeness Prakash enjoys with Marandi can be gauged from the fact that in 2006 when Marandi decided to leave BJP along with Marandi and other BJP leaders too left BJP. However, his honeymoon with Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) did not continue for long as after three years he once again returned to BJP. Sources said that his closeness with Marandi can be gauged from the fact that when the talks of Marandi planning to merge his party JVM with BJP started he was one of the few leaders in BJP who had information, but he kept the entire development secret.
The appointment of Prakash also assumes importance as he eclipsed many leaders, who were in fray of becoming state president. Leaders such as BJP Rajmahal Anant Ojha, Chatra MP Sunil Singh, former state president Ravindra Rai and Rajya Sabha MP Samir Oroan were in fray for State president’s post.
Prakash is in BJP for more than three decades. He started his political activities as ABVP member in 1973 and later became a BJP member. As a BJP member he had held the post of state secretary and state vice president in BJYM the youth wing of BJP. In State BJP he had held the post of state secretary and vice presidents apart from being member of core committee. Prakash, who is post graduate in political science is good orator and is known for his organizational skills. By appointing Prakash as State president, the BJP has tried to give a message of social balance as Marandi a tribal leader has been made BJP legislative party chief, while the State president post went to general category.
State BJP leaders have congratulated Prakash for his appointment as state president. Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das said, “The BJP will strengthen with appointment of Prakash as state president as he had long experience of working in BJP organization. He will take the BJP to new heights.”
Union Tribal Affairs minister Arjun Munda too has welcomed the appointment of Prakash as State president, Munda said, “Prakash is senior leader with strong organizational skills. The party will gain from his experience.”
Other State leaders too have welcomed the appointment of Prakash as state president. Many BJP leaders visited party office and wished him for becoming state president