Three former IPS officers and three MLAs -- two from Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and one from Congress -- today joined the BJP, ahead of the assembly election in the state.
The three officers -- Laxman Prasad Singh, Sheetal Oraon and Amitabh Choudhary -- joined the party in the presence of BJP Jharkhand unit president Ravindra Rai and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, party spokesman Prem Mittal said.
All the three former IPS officers had taken voluntary retirement earlier, with Amitabh Choudhary tasting defeat from Ranchi in the April/May Lok Sabha elections on a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric-JVM) ticket.
When contacted, Laxman Prasad Singh, who was IG (Bokaro)and was to retire early next year, said he had worked for years amidst the people and wished to continue his service for the people.
"Now I am a disciplined soldier of the BJP. I will abide by whatever the party decides," Singh said, when asked whether he expected ticket for the ensuing elections.
Sheetal Oraon, who took voluntary retirement and was to superannuate as IG (Headquarters) on October 31, said he is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
"Modi's leadership is very good. We want to be a part of his objective to ensure good governance and rule of law," Oraon said.
He too said he would work as a BJP worker and abide by its discipline.
MLAs Dhulu Mahto, Satyendranath Tiwari (both JVM) and Madhavlal Singh of Congress also joined the party, Mittal said.
Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Shashank Sekhar Bhokta said,"Madhavlal Singh submitted his resignation letter today while the other two have not yet given their letters."
Jharkhand goes for polls in five phases from November 25.
