New Delhi, Sept 26: Samata Party today appointed Birbal Prasad Mehta as the president of its Jharkhand state unit. This was announced by senior party leader and Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, who had been authorised by party leaders in Jharkhand to nominate the state unit chief.

Though the name of Ramesh Singh Munda was announced for the post on May 15, the matter got embroiled in controversy as a number of Samata Party leaders, including two ministers did not attend the meeting. In view of the controversy, the central leadership of Samata Party cancelled the appointment of Munda. Subsequently, the state party leaders authorised Kumar to take a decision as to who would head the state unit.
Bureau Report