BABULAL Marandi, prominent Jharkhand leader, returns to BJP

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi has returned to BJP along with his supporters after merging the JVM (P) with the saffron party at Ranchi on Monday, February 17. Marandi was the Chief Minister of Jharkhand from November 2000 to March 2003. A four-time former MP, he quit BJP and launched Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) in 2006. Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed Marandi, the first chief minister of Jharkhand, and his supporters into the saffron party at a rally .Amit Shah also assured the tribal leader that he will get due respect and responsibility in the BJP.”I am delighted that Babulal Marandi has returned to BJP. I was working for his return since 2014 when I became the party president,” Amit Shah told the rally.  Marandi,62, is a native of Giridih district belonging to Santal community. After passing high school, he moved to Giridih College from where he did his intermediate and graduation. He was a primary school teacher for one year. He came in contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).He worked as a teacher in a village primary school for a year before giving up the job to work for the Sangh Parivar. He was also associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. In 1983, he moved to Dumka and used to live in the RSS office in Dumka. Following creation in 2000, he headed the first NDA government in the eastern state. He credited for initiating several developmental schemes in including improvement of the road network in the state. With Marandi, an MLA,the NDA now has 29 members in the 81-Member state legislative assembly.