Gulshan Ajmani (Right) being welcomed in the BJP
A politician and former state legislator accused of corruption and jailed for several months in the fodder scam has joined BJP today in Jharkhand, which votes later this year for next government.
Gulshan Lal Ajmani, former legislator from Ranchi, was chargesheeted by the CBI for accepting money from a supplier, one of the main accused in the fodder scam, in which fake bills were created for food and medicines for cattle to siphon off state money.
"I am not aware about any fodder scam case where he has been chargesheeted but I will find out more and ascertain the fact in this case," said BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Arjun Munda, who welcomed Mr Ajmani into the party.
In 1995, Ajmani, then a sitting MLA, had opposed BJP leader Yashwant Sinha's candidature from the Ranchi assembly seat. Mr Sinha was given the ticket by the BJP after denying Mr Ajmani a renomination.
His induction has surprised BJP leaders in Jharkhand as well as neighbouring Bihar as they feel it will blunt the party's campaign for the Assembly election. Some party leaders feel it will make it hard during campaign to remind voters of rival Lalu Prasad Yadav's conviction in the fodder scam since a politician embroiled in the same scandal is now among their ranks.
The development comes in the backdrop of the BJP top leadership stressing on zero-tolerance on corruption.
Apart from Mr Ajmani, Simon Marandi of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Gopal Krishna Patar of Janata Dal (United) and Dulal Bhuyan of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) also joined the BJP.