Meetings fruitless, rebels insist Marandi must quit

‘‘We will persuade our ministers to give up their demand, but at the same time, we expect Marandi to be responsive to their genuine grievances,’’ they said. BJP general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told The Indian Express that ‘‘there is no question of replacing Marandi.’’

The ministers — Madhu Singh, Bachcha Singh, Ramesh Munda, Jaleshwar Mahto (all belonging to the Samata) and Lalchand Mahto (JD (U)) — who met JD(U) president Sharad Yadav last night and Samata leader Nitish Kumar today, said that they were not satisfied with the talks.

Lalchand Mahato told mediapersons: ‘‘We have apprised the central leadership with the political situation. We stick to our stand that Marandi should be replaced. A leadership change is a must if the BJP wants to avoid a repeat of the Himachal debacle.’’

BJP leader from Jharkhand Saryu Rai, who is mediating on behalf of his party, said the disgruntled ministers were all senior leaders and since they had equal responsibility in forming and running the government, they would refrain from precipitating a crisis.

The activity in the Samata and the JD (U) camps notwithstanding, the BJP leadership did not expect much out from the goings-on. Sources in the party said the five ministers were for all practical purposes on their own. Their party labels were only of nominal significance. Since the trouble stemmed from power-sharing at Ranchi, any patch-up would have to be worked out by them and Marandi.

Meanwhile, jd (U)’s Sankalp Yatra against Marandi reached Ranchi today on the penultimate day of its 34-day programme in the state.