JVM (P) denies Marandi meeting any BJP leader to return to

The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) on Saturday dismissed media reports about its president Babulal Marandi meeting a senior BJP leader, paving way for his return to the saffron party.

The party came with a statement in the backdrop of media reports speculating Marandi's coming back to the BJP. The reports also highlighted chance of Marandi becoming BJP's Legislature Party leader in the recently constituted Jharkhand House.

The speculation, as per the media reports, has been triggered by the fact that the BJP has not yet named its legislature party leader in the assembly even after a fortnight has passed since the election results were declared.

"He has not yet met any senior BJP leader anywhere. He has not at all discussed on the issue of BJPs legislature party leader, senior JVM-P leader and former general secretary Abhay Singh said in a press statement.

The newspapers claimed that Marandi met a senior BJP leader in Delhi and "may return to the saffron party" after January 14.

"Babulal Marandi never indulges in politics of bargaining. One should not forget that without any greed he relinquished the post of chief minister (in 2002) and also quit from the membership of Lok Sabha," Singh said.

Singh, however, was ambiguous in one of his lines saying "The whole party stands by Marandi in whatever decision he makes in the interest of the state or the nation. He has not met any senior BJP leader anywhere."