JVM rejects BJP’s merger offer: JVMLP leader Pradip Yadav

Ranchi

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) today claimed that it rejected the BJP’s offer to merge with the saffron party.

“Our leader Babulal Marandiji went to Delhi after BJP called him for talks. Around 4 pm, he met BJP President Amit Shah, who proposed him to merge our party with the BJP but Marandiji rejected the offer,” JVM(P) legislature party leader Pradip Yadav told PTI.

Yadav denied when asked whether there was any talks on JVM providing outside support or joining the BJP-led government, which would be sworn in tomorrow under the leadership of Raghuvar Das.

No BJP leader was available for comments.

Yadav said the JVM legislature party again chose him as its leader.

While Yadav retained Poreyahat seat, Marandi lost both Giridih and Dhanwar seats in the just concluded polls.

JVM has won eight seats, down from 11 it had won in 2009 assembly polls.

Marandi, who had headed the first BJP-government on November 15, 2000, floated JVM after walking out of BJP following differences with the party, a year after Arjun Munda was appointed as chief minister following formation of government by the BJP-led coalition after 2005 assembly polls.

Marandi was replaced by Munda in 2003.

Yadav and BJP’s incumbent state unit president Ravindra Rai were several leaders who quit BJP along with Marandi.

Later, Rai and many others returned to BJP.

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