Jharkhand Speaker yet to decide on Babulal Marandi as Leader of Opposition

Former CM had been declared leader of the BJP legislature party after the JVM(P)’s merger

Almost seven months after the Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) in February this year, the Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato is yet taken any decision on granting status of Leader of Opposition (LoP) to him under Anti-defection law pertaining to 10th schedule of the Constitution. For the last six months, the Jharkhand Assembly has not had an LoP. Mr. Marandi who had been a member of the BJP, was the first chief minister Jharkhand after its bifurcation from Bihar in November 2000. Later, he parted ways with the BJP to form the JVM (P). Earlier, after the merger, the BJP had declared Mr. Marandi as LoP in the State Assembly and chief of the BJP legislature party. However, Speaker Mahato took suo motu cognizance of the decision and the revolt of two JVM(P) MLAs — Pradeep Yadav and Bandhu Tirkey — against it, and initiated proceedings against Mr. Marandi’s membership. Mr. Marandi later challenged the Speaker’s decision in the Ranchi High Court.