New chapter

Ranchi, June 12: The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), led by Babulal Marandi, has finally bagged the status of state party with the Election Commission according recognition.

JVM(P) has been asked to send its choice for a reserved symbol. A notification to this effect was issued yesterday. The party has been granted recognition after a review of performances of different political parties in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

According to the rules, a party needs to secure at least six per cent of the total valid votes to get recognition as a state party. It also needs to win at least one seat out of every 20 Lok Sabha constituencies.

The JVM(P) contested 14 Lok Sabha seats as a registered unrecognised party and secured over 10.5 per cent of the total valid votes. The party’s chief, Babulal Marandi, won the Koderma Lok Sabha constituency on a cup-plate symbol.

“It is a historic occasion for us. We will hold a meeting with our office-bearers this evening, where our election symbol will be discussed. The issue will also be discussed at our executive body meeting that will begin tomorrow,” said party’s principal general secretary Pradip Yadav.

After JMM, JVM(P) is the second recognised state party in Jharkhand. Like the JMM, it too has extended unconditional support to the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre.

The party intends to contest all the seats in the next state Assembly election.

“We are not averse to forging alliances with such parties that agree to fight the Vidhan Sabha election under the leadership of Babulal Marandi, who will be our chief ministerial candidate. We extended support to the Congress only to facilitate formation of a stable Union government,” Yadav added.