Further talks to pursuade Babulal Marandi fail

Ranchi, May 19: The last ditch effort to pacify BJP national vice-president Babulal Marandi today ended in smoke with the latter turning down the party's request to withdraw his resignation.

Three Rajya Sabha members - former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Mr Devdas Apte and Mr Ajay Maru had an informal meeting with the BJP leader at Nemotand in Hazaribag.

After the meeting, Mr Marandi said he was talking of his resignation only after puting in his paper and the question of retraction did not arise.

On the other hand, in-charge of Jharkhand affairs Sumitra Mahajan rushed to Ranchi to have an on-the-spot understanding of the turmoil.

Ms Mahajan had discussion with the Chief Minister on the situation and was scheduled to return to New Delhi by this evening with her report. She also discussed with various party leaders here to prepare her report.

A party insider said, based on her report, the high command was likely to announce the next move.

In the state capital, hectic parleys, closed door meetings today continued in the Jharkhand BJP with arrival of more central leaders assigned to keep the morale of confused partry cadres up following the crisis triggered by Mr Marandi's resignation.

Among various options being constatly worked on to retain the party's position intact in the state, the leadership was understood to have even considered change of guard, both at party and government levels to placate Mr Marandi, who till yesterday was the national vice-president of the BJP.

Mr Marandi, also the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand, had been saying he had no agenda to topple the Arjun Munda government and instead wanted to give more time to the present BJP government to let people see its ''misgovernance''. Besides, state BJP president Yadunath Pandey was also reportedly not on good terms with Mr Marandi.

The BJP was aware of the thin majority it was enjoying in the Assembly with the ruling NDA (BJP-30, JD (U)-6, NCP-1, IND-2, JP-1 AJSU-2 and one nominated member) having 43 membes while Opposition UPA (JMM-17, Cong-9, RJD-7, CPI (ML)-1, UDGP-2, FB-2 and ind-1) has a total of 39.

A light erosion in the NDA might cast doom for the party's prospect in the state, a politcal observer said.

The BJP's despair became more acute when yesterday' Mr Sinha and his two colleages could not resolve the issue.

Earlier this morning, Mr Marandi rushed to Hazaribag from Giridih and was holding meetings at several places on his way to Ranchi.

Simultaneously, Mr Sinha and Mr Apte also left for Hazaribag.

Party sources last night made it clear that effort might be continuing but any meeting among the trouble shooters and the rebel leader would be deemed as unoffical ones only.

However, the trio, considered close to Mr Marandi, made a last ditch effort to pacify Mr Marandi.

Till late last night, reacting to Mr Marandi's resignation from the BJP's preliminary membership and Lok Sabha on grounds of corruption, extremism and under-development in Jharkhand, the Chief Minister constinued to say '' constant efforts'' were on to bring him back to the party.

UNI

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