2 of 3 JVM(P) MLAs joined us: Cong after Babulal Marandi announces JVM(P) merger with BJP

On a day Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) chief Babulal Marandi announced the merger of his outfit with the BJP, the Congress on Monday sprung a surprise saying two of the three JVM(P) legislators have joined it and the entire regional party would merge with it on March 1.

The announcement by the Congress' in-charge of Jharkhand R P N Singh came soon after former chief minister Marandi announced JVM-P's merger with the BJP in presence of Amit Shah.

The two MLAs -- Pradeep Yadav and Bandhu Tirkey -- said two-third of the party legislators have announced joining the Congress and hence theirs is the "real JVM(P)", and other office bearers would join the Congress soon.

Yadav claimed that 95 per cent party members and office bearers are with them and not with Marandi.

"Two of the three MLAs of JVM(P) have joined the Congress and the 'real' JVM-P party would merge with the Congress soon at a public rally to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi," Singh told reporters.

To a question that the two MLAs have already been suspended by the party, Singh said the decision would be taken by the Jharkhand assembly speaker.

Yadav is the JVM(P)'s legislative party leader, a former minister and five-time MLA. Tirkey is a three-time MLA and a former state minister.

When asked about the charge that the Congress was indulging in poaching of MLAs, its chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that Amit Shah was the "vice chancellor of the University of Poaching" as he has indulged in such activities across the country.

"Who is the poaching guru and who is the vice chancellor of the Poaching University?" he said.

R P N Singh said three JVM(P) MLAs were elected to the current Jharkhand Assembly and two of them are with the Congress. "On March 1, JVM's top leaders will join the Congress in a ceremony. We have requested Rahul Gandhi to address this ceremony, and he has accepted it."