Ranchi, Nov. 13: From Parliament to the VIP parking lot, the journey has not been circuitous for Rajya Sabha member Ajay Maroo. The MP from Ranchi has a new assignment. He has been asked to look after the BJP workers and their cars during the Statehood Day celebrations. He will also be in charge of workers and vehicles arriving from external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha’s parliamentary constituency, Hazaribagh.

Maroo was assigned the parking lot duty by state BJP president Abhaykant Prasad, keeping in view deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani’s visit. Other than Maroo, similar duties have also been assigned to a member of the Assembly, a party vice-president and chairpersons of two state-run bodies.

Prasad said Maroo would be at RIMS ground overseeing parking of vehicles and arrival of workers. “Party workers coming from Hazaribagh would be at his disposal. He will also take care of their vehicles to be parked in front of RIMS,” he added.

The state BJP chief said the arrangement was made for the convenience of party workers. “We have created six parking lots in different parts of the capital. We expect a large numbers of party workers and vehicles from all over the state on Friday,” he added.

“The five other parking spaces would be manned by Ranchi Industrial Area Development Authority chairman Nirbhay Singh, Mineral Development Corporation chairman Deepak Prakash, state BJP general-secretary Lal Rajendra Nath Shahdeo, Ranchi MLA C.P. Singh and the 20-point programme execution committee vice-president Rakesh Prasad,” he added.

They will look after the parking slots near Hehal, Harmu, Railway Station, Circular Road and Bariatu Housing Colony. The Hehal parking place would be for vehicles coming from Gumla, Lohardaga, Latehar, Garhwa while the Harmu slot would accommodate vehicles from Simdega, Khunti, West Singhbhum, Seraikella, Torpa and Murhu.

“Vehicles from Jamsehpur, East Singhbhum, rural Ranchi, Bundu, Silli, Tamad and Sonahatu would be parked on Circular Road base parking site. Those from Chhatra, Koderma, Giridih, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Jamtara, Godda, Dumka, Pakur and Sahebganj can be parked at Bariatu Housing Colony,” Prasad said.

The BJP chief, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, said preparations have been made to make the foundation day celebrations a grand success.

“Altogether 8,000 party workers are working round-the-clock. Their target is to distribute about 2.5 lakh handbills among villagers to ensure mass participation,” he added.

The party would put up 200 hoardings, 1,000 banners, 400 welcome arches and 12,000 party flags on the foundation day. “The government has not made any provision for special entry passes. The programme is open to all,’’ Prasad said.