Controversial Marandi heads to Delhi, likely to be sacked
RANCHI: Tala Marandi, the Jharkhand BJP’s first tribal president, is likely to get the sack.
Marandi has been courting controversies ever since he took over this May. After a series of incidents that reportedly tarnished the party’s image in the state, a “disappointed” BJP high command reportedly summoned him and chief minister Raghubar Das to Delhi on Tuesday. The reason, party insiders say, was to remove Marandi from his position.
While Das left for the capital, Marandi’s whereabouts were not known. His phone remained switched off through Tuesday.
Trivendra Rawat, the Jharkhand BJP in-charge, told HT that the party was hunting for a new face because Marandi was unlikely to be party president for long.
“The party will discuss his actions and take a decision,” he said.
Das met Rawat in Delhi to discuss the issue on Tuesday. Party sources said a decision on Marandi is likely to be taken by Wednesday, and officially announced later.
Marandi was criticised by his own party members on Monday after he joined the Opposition in protesting against the tenancy law amendments proposed by the BJP-ruled state. He said the changes proposed by the BJP government in the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, allowing acquisition of tribal farmlands for non-agricultural purposes, would lead to the extinction of tribals.
His statement came at a time when the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was attacking the government for bringing out the “antitribal” ordinance.
Party members also accused Marandi of taking arbitrary decisions.
He had recently formed a new committee of party office-bearers without consulting anybody.
Three party leaders on Monday rejected his call to join the body.
“It has become obvious that leaders are not happy with his penchant for making controversial remarks and taking arbitrary decisions. The three leaders’ refusal to join the committee is being viewed as a mark of protest,” said a senior officebearer.
Soon after taking charge, Marandi’s son — Munna — was accused of sexual exploitation by a minor tribal girl.
The state BJP president tried to get him married off soon after, only to face charges of child marriage because the bride’s school records showed her as an 11-year-old.
“Marandi may lose his chair. He has been surrounded by controversies ever since he came to power, and the party may not retain such a person for long,” said political expert VP Sharan.