NDA panel may be formed to guide Marandi

If the buzz in the NDA circle is to be believed, a coordination committee of the NDA constituents is likely to be set up for running the Bab...

If the buzz in the NDA circle is to be believed, a coordination committee of the NDA constituents is likely to be set up for running the Babulal Marandi government smoothly once the Poraiyahat bypoll gets over.

In fact, such a committee headed by JD(U)’s Gautam Sagar Rana had been set up in 2001. But the CM had then preferred to ignore its decisions. As a result, Rana had quit last year. Now, with the rebels breathing down his neck Marandi has little choice but to give importance to such a committee. Especially, when NDA convener George Fernandes saved his day by coaxing dissident Minister Bachcha Singh to give up his demand for the CM’s ouster.

The other four rebels ministers have also been marginalised, following Bachcha Singh’s desertion from their camp and CPI(M-L) MLA Mahendra Singh’s resignation on the floor of the Assembly yesterday.

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The four rebels confined themselves to the drawing room of Excise Minister Ramesh Singh Munda (Samata) today and reportedly discussed ways to become Marandi’s allies again.

‘‘I had a talk with George Saheb. He told me that the BJP leadership had ruled out any change of leadership in the state for the time being. He also told me that we, along with the Chief Minister, may be called to New Delhi to work out a formula to run the NDA governent here smoothly,’’ said Energy Minister Lalchand Mahto of the JD(U).

The dissidents are well aware that their opposition to Marandi in the House is not enough to unseat him now. With Baccha on his side and Mahendra’s resignation, Marandi still has the support from 40 MLAs.

This has made Marandi get into election mode. The Poriyahat Assembly bypoll is slated for March 24 and the CM told journalists this afternoon that his party has relaunched campaigning in the area. Marandi himself is likely to visit Poraiyahat in the next few days.

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