2 wks after SC directive, BJP yet to name LoP

Ranchi: The state unit of the BJP is yet to pick a legislator as the leader of opposition in Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha nearly two weeks after the Supreme Court's nudge over the matter.Even as the party, trying to recover from its defeat in the assembly election last November, is attempting to regain its ground among the electorate through its ongoing Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan, speculations within the rank and file over the party pick for the post is swirling.While a section of party insiders claim that its state president Babulal Marandi could be named the LoP ahead of the budget session beginning next month, others believe that a new face can get the push.Neera Yadav, Koderma MLA and former education minister in the cabinet of former CM Raghubar Das, is among the frontrunners for the pick for her OBC background. Likewise, party cadres are also discussing the scope of former CM Champai Soren, who joined the party in August, 2024, as a contender along with seven-time Ranchi MLA and former minister C P Singh. On Jan 7, while hearing a plea about the pending appointments to the posts of chief information commissioner and information commissioners, the SC had asked the state BJP, being the largest opposition party in the opposition, to pick a LoP within two weeks."The BJP's loss has been so devastating that it has lost all its confidence. So much so, the SC had to direct them to pick LoP," JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said. Pratul Shahdeo, BJP's state spokesperson, said that the party would soon name its LoP."But when it comes to appointments, the state govt is responsible. Amar Kumar Bauri was the LoP for 1.5 years in the previous Vidhan Sabha. Why was it not done then? It was due to the dilly-dallying of the Hemant Soren govt," he said.