Jharkhand BJP spokesperson, three others join JD(U)

PATNA: Former state secretary-cum-spokesperson of Jharkhand unit of BJP Prem Kataruka and other three prominent leaders of Shibu Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Party-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) on Sunday joined Bihar’s ruling JD(U) here in presence of CM Nitish Kumar.
Three other leaders who joined JD(U) were Arun Mandal, Prabhat Kumar Prabhakar (both from JMM) and Manoj Yadav, a senior leader of the JVM-P.Mandal, a prominent leader of Santhal Paragna region had contested 2005 assembly seat on JMM’s symbol from Jarmundi constituency.
After joining JD(U), Kataruka said he had been associated with the BJP ever since its inception in 1980, but he decided to leave the party because of one-upmanship both at the Centre and the state. “Since 1980, under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the BJP workers had been fighting for decentralization of powers in the government and the organization. Even today all powers in the BJP rests in one or two persons, both at the Centre and in Jharkhand. In such a scenario, dedicated workers like me are feeling suffocated,” Kataruka said.
Kataruka also held the post of BJP’s state secretary in Jharkhand from 2005 to 2008, besides remaining state incharge of party’s many programmes in the past. He said he had joined the JD(U) with a mission to strengthen the party before the coming assembly election in Jharkhand. Assembly elections are due in Jharkhand in coming November-December.