Babulal Marandi

Babulal Marandi (; born 11 January 1958) is an Indian politician and a prominent tribal leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) . He is currently the 7th Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand legislative assembly since 2024. He was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand and the founder of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), which he later merged with BJP. He has been a Member of Parliament in the 12th, 13th 14th and 15th Lok Sabha from Jharkhand. He was also the Union State Minister (MoS) for Forests & Environment of India in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance Government in 1998 to 2000. He was appointed Jharkhand BJP president on 4 July 2023 and served till 14 January 2026.

Early life

Babulal was born in a remote Kodia Bandh village under Tisri block of Giridih district of the now Jharkhand province. He belongs to Santal family.

Bharatiya Janata Party

Marandi merged Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) with the BJP on February 17, 2020, at Jagannathpur Maidan, Ranchi in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda and former Chief Ministers of Jharkhand Arjun Munda and Raghubar Das.

Personal life

Babulal Marandi is married to Shanti Murmu.

Electoral history Indian general elections ^by-election

Jharkhand Legislative Assembly Year ConstituencyParty Votes % OpponentOpponent Party Opponent Votes % Result Margin % 2024Dhanwar 106,296 45.35 Nizam Uddin Ansari 70,858 30.23 35,438 15.12 2019 52,352 27.58 Lakshman Prasad Singh 34,802 18.33 17,550 9.25 2014 39,922 22.59 Raj Kumar Yadav 50,634 28.66 -10,712 -6.07 2001 Ramgarh(by-election) 55,884 43.4 Nadra Begum 35,966 27.93 19,918 15.47