Babulal keeping options open

Ranchi: Though the BJP-Ajsu Party combine has got majority, JVM (P) is not averse to playing a part in government formation.
“We are keeping our options open,” JVM (P) general secretary Pradeep Yadav told TOI on Wednesday. “We have not got any feelers from any quarter but are holding consultations within the party. We are not in a hurry to take a decision and would prefer to wait and watch,” he said.
Yadav, however, dismissed speculation of his party merging with the BJP. “We have never discussed such a possibility,” he said. JVM’s president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi, who lost from both Giridih and Dhanwar, was in the BJP before he floated his own party.
JVM (P) has eight MLAs in the 81-member House. Its tally decreased by three compared to its performance in 2009, when it allied with the Congress. This time, it had coalition with Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, which failed to open its account after its prominent face Bandhu Tirkey tasted defeat in Mandar.
“We would assess our party’s performance, including the reasons for Marandi’s loss. Our legislature party would meet on December 29 to elect its leader,” Yadav, a four-time MLA, said. Party sources said Yadav being the senior-most among the eight MLAs would most likely become the JVM (P) leader in the assembly.
Party sources said Marandi would be visiting Assam to meet victims of victims of Bodo militants’ latest attacks. He is expected to return on December 28. “Once he returns we will take a final call on various issues including government formation,” added a party leader.