The Jharkhand Assembly witnessed ruckus on second consecutive day on Monday as Opposition members demanded the Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto to accord leader of opposition (LoP) status to Babulal Marnadi, the BJP legislative party leader in House, amid House passing the third supplementary budget of Rs 1214.94 crore. The supplementary budget was tabled on Friday and the House on Monday passed the budget without any discussion.
Meanwhile, the BJP members with their demand staged protest both inside and outside the Assembly. On the Monday before the Assembly proceedings, the BJP legislators holding placards staged the demonstration at Assembly entrance demanding the Speaker to accord Leader of Opposition (LoP) status to Babulal Marandi.
As the session commenced the BJP lawmakers entered the well of the house demanding the Speaker to accord LoP status to Marandi. The BJP legislators raising the slogans claimed that the State Government is anti-tribal and is afraid of Marandi if he becomes the Leader of Opposition. As the BJP legislators protest intensified the Speaker adjourned the House till 12.30 noon.
At 12.30 noon when the House resumed, the BJP legislators once again staged a protest with their demand. The BJP members with their demand once again entered the well of the House. However, despite BJP members’ protest the Speaker started the Assembly proceedings with members raising important issue in Zero Hour. Legislators such as Umashankar Akela, Bandhu Tirkey, Lobin Hembrom, Vinod Kumar Singh, Amba Prasad and others despite ruckus created by Opposition raised their issue.
The Speaker tried to pacify the agitating BJP members stating that the House has taken cognizance to their demand. However, the BJP legislators who were adamant with their demand continued with their protest. The Speaker despite BJP legislators’ protest made some important announcement such as Sudesh Mahto being made as leader of ASJU party in Assembly. The Speaker also asked finance minister Rameshwar Oraon to present the white paper on the financial condition of State. The JMM in its election manifesto had promised to bring white paper on state financial condition if the JMM/Congress government comes to power. Post lunch when the House resumed the BJP members continued with their protest.
On Friday when the budget session commended the BJP MLAs entered the well of the house sitting on the floor with their demand and even raised the slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.
On February 17, former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi merged his 14-year-old party JVM with BJP in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A week later BJP MLAs on February 24 unanimously elected Marandi as their Legislature Party Leader and the BJP legislators even submitted the letter to Speaker demanding Leader of Opposition chair for Marandi. However, on the day when Marandi was elected as BJP legislative leader, JVM two other MLA Pradeep Yadav and Bandhu Tirkey who too joined the Congress claimed themselves as real JVM.
Meanwhile, the speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto had said that he will go through legal aspects in according leader of opposition chair to Marandi.