In the wake of former chief minister of Jharkhand and BJP national vice-president Babulal Marandi quitting the party, BJP president Rajnath Singh today deputed former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, senior leader Devdas Apte and Ajay Maroo, MP, to help Chief Minister Arjun Munda keep the BJP flock intact.Munda leads a raggle-taggle coalition of BJP, JD(U), independents and local outfits with a total strength of 43 in a House of 82. The rival combination of JMM, Congress, RJD and independents has a strength of 39.Notwithstanding Marandi’s public posture after ending a 24-hour fast that he has no intention to pull down the government, the BJP has formulated its strategy on the basis of reports of a destabilisation plan by the rival formation to overthrow Munda. Only one MLA, Ravindra Rai, has come out in support of Marandi so far.Marandi is likely to float a regional party along with former JMM leader Stephen Marandi. The latter has quit as the UPA convenor. This move is set to prove counter-productive. Union Coal Minister and JMM chief Shibu Soren would naturally refuse to back Marandi, who would compete with him for the leadership of Adivasis.
