Ranchi, Mar 17: In a day of swift political developments in Jharkhand, Arjun Munda today was elected leader of the BJP legislative party. This added authencity to rumours that Arjun Munda would be the new chief minister of the state following the resignation of Babulal Marandi. Meanwhile, BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu today said the crisis in Jharkhand would be resolved soon and an alternative government formed very soon. Naidu said senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh was in Ranchi to oversee the matter and it would be settled amicably. The party was in touch with other allies, he said.

Marandi resigned hours before his trial of strength in assembly this morning which was necessitated after resignation of seven ministers and his government was defeated in the voting on the Cut Motion on March 13.

Refusing to give names Naidu dropped hints that a tribal would succeed Marandi.

Jharkhand was plunged into crisis when the Speaker Namdhari, also an aspirant for the chief minister's post, adjourned the House ‘sine die’ after he announced the defeat of BJP-led government in voting on cut motions, and ruled that Marandi should prove his majority today on the floor of the House.

Bureau Report