By IANS,
Ranchi : The Jharkhand unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday revoked the suspension of a rebel legislator while another lawmaker quit the party.
Legislator Rabindra Rai rejoined the BJP. He was suspended in 2006 for backing former chief minister and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Democratic president Babulal Marandi.
“We revoke the suspension of Rabindra Rai. Rai is now a full-fledged party worker as he was in the past. The BJP will perform better in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” said senior BJP leader and former union minister Yashwant Sinha.
“I will carry forward the party agenda,” Rai said on the occassion.
In 2006, Marandi quit the BJP and the party suspended five legislators who went with him.
Rai’s decision is a setback for Babulal Marandi. Rai was a close associate of Marandi for a long time.
Another suspended BJP legislator, Pradeep Yadav, however, announced he would quit membership of the state assembly on Feb 16 and press for dissolution of the house. Yadav has expressed his loyalty to Marandi.