Ranchi, Aug. 5: The state unit of the BJP today issued a note bidding an “informal” farewell to party president Abhaykant Prasad, a month before his term expires.

Prasad, known as Babulal Marandi’s man in the BJP, assumed charge on September 2 2001. Party sources said the note was an indication that Prasad, a little known non-tribal leader from Santhal Parganas elected to the Rajya Sabha, was not in the fray for the party chief’s post this time.

Though the party constitution does not permit a person to become president for two consecutive terms, Prasad could have staked claim to the post since his tenure was truncated.

Election to the post of state party president is slated for mid-September. BJP leaders have vowed to ensure that there is no contest and the new chief is chosen “unanimously”. Prasad had emerged victorious after a triangular fight resulting from acute factionalism in the party.

Marandi’s support had come handy as the other two contestants — Lal Rajendra Nath Shahdeo and Suryamani Singh were not perceived as Marandi loyalists.

Prasad was rewarded with the Upper House berth. The party has been working on a tacit agreement that when a tribal is the chief minister, the state, the BJP president will be a non-tribal and vice-versa.

Party spokesperson Umashankar Kedia today listed the “achievements” of Prasad and said the president had worked hard to take the party and the government to the grassroots.