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Jharkhand: BJP picks Babulal Marandi as legislative party leader

Marandi was picked for the post unanimously in the presence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, central observer Dr K Laxman, BJP national vice president Dr Laxmikant Bajpai and state in-charge Nagendra Nath.

Babulal Marandi, Babulal Marandi BJP legislative party leader, BJP legislative party, Indian express news, current affairsRajya Sabha MP Laxmikant Bajpai with BJP State President Babulal Marandi in Ranchi on Thursday. ANI

Former Jharkhand CM Babulal Marandi was on Thursday chosen as the  BJP legislative party leader in the state Assembly, clearing the way for his elevation as the next leader of Opposition in the House.

Marandi was picked for the post unanimously in the presence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, central observer Dr K Laxman, BJP national vice president Dr Laxmikant Bajpai and state in-charge Nagendra Nath. Given the BJP’s “one person, one post” practice, speculation is rife over Marandi’s successor as Jharkhand BJP chief.

Marandi, the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand, said he will “raise the voice of the poor, Dalits, Adivasis and the youth” of the state. “The poor constitute 41% of Jharkhand population; it is the poorest population across the country. We will be the voice of the poor, the Dalit and Adivasi population, the youth; we will be the voice of the entirety of Jharkhand,” Marandi said.

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On the delay in his appointment, Marandi said, “These things take time, there is no other reason.” Marandi had won with over 35,000 votes from the Dhanwar constituency in the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections.

According to BJP sources, former Koderma MP Dr Ravindra Kumar Ray and Dr Dineshanand Goswami are being seen as the front-runners to succeed Marandi as the state BJP chief. “The emphasis will be on an organisational individual… the party’s sole aim in the state now is to ensure increasing acceptability among the tribal population,” a source said.

Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. Over the last 16 years, he has covered governance, politics, bureaucracy, crime, traffic, intelligence, the Election Commission of India and Urban Development among other beats. He is an English (Literature) graduate from Zakir Husain Delhi College, DU & specialised in Print at the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. He tweets @jatinpaul ... Read More

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