New Delhi: With the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) led by Babulal Marandi on Tuesday announcing its decision to merge with the BJP on February 17, state BJP leader and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth that the former Jharkhand's Chief Minister's entry would bolster the saffron party.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Seth said that Babulal Marandi, the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand, is a well-respected leader and his entry to the BJP would strengthen the party.
"Him joining hands with the BJP can be seen as his homecoming, and we are all very excited about it. Babulal Ji's entry into the party will definitely make the party stronger," he said.
Seth stated that Marandi would definitely be given a a position in the party's state leadership, even though he has made it clear that he would work as an ordinary BJP worker.
"We don't follow hierarchy in the BJP. Every leader is a karyakarta (worker). Right from the national president to the booth president, everyone is a party worker. Even I was, am, and shall always remain a karyakarta," he said.
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Brushing aside the Opposition criticism towards Marandi for switching sides, Seth said that Marandi had always believed in the ideology of the BJP.
"Since the beginning of his political career Babulal ji, has identified with the ideology of BJP, the Sangh, and Vishva Hindu Parishad. Although he formed his own party, Babulal ji never abandoned the ideology,' he claimed.
The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) led by Babulal Marandi had yesterday announced its decision to merge with the BJP on February 17.
Marandi said Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda will be present at the merger ceremony.
The JVM(P) had bagged three seats in the Assembly elections held last year.