Jharkhand’s first chief minister Babulal Marandi returned to the BJP on Monday in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah and other senior party leaders, and quickly toed the saffron line.

Marandi had quit the BJP in 2006 citing personal and organisational reasons and formed the JVM, which he merged in the BJP on Monday.

“People asked why I decided to join the BJP when I used to talk about secularism. If there is secularism in the country it is because of the ideology of Hindutva where everyone right from Lord Ram to Bhagwan Birsa Munda exists. I joined the BJP because it is a cadre-based party whereas almost all other political parties are promoting dynastic politics,” said Marandi.

He also spoke at length on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which has sparked protests across the country including in Jharkhand, and claimed minorities have no reason to worry over the law.

Shah said that Marandi’s “ghar wapsi” took six years of persuasion, and declared that the Jharkhand BJP would flourish under leadership of three former chief ministers — Marandi, Arjun Munda and Raghubar Das.

“Woh thode se ziddi prakar ke vyakti hain, jaldi nahin maney (He is a stubborn person, was not persuaded easily),” Shah said.

Over 20,000 workers and leaders of the JVM and the BJP were present at the merger event. “BJP is your home and you have just come back to your home,” Shah told Marandi. He said Marandi had “set an example of how to survive without power”.

Shah said the BJP would play the role of a constructive Opposition in Jharkhand.

“We will not tolerate corruption, terrorism and extremism. Recently, tribals were butchered (in West Singhbhum). I saw the pictures and I have not seen such savagery in my life,” said Shah.

Both Das and Munda termed Marandi as a visionary leader.

Das said Marandi had controlled leftwing extremism. “Marandiji had to suffer personal loss and his son was murdered,” said Das.

Marandi said it would be wrong to say that the BJP was compelled to take him back due to the defeat in the recently held Assembly election.

“What I am today and whatsoever I have achieved is because of the BJP. I never demanded anything for myself. I can pick up the broom for the party. May the almighty give me strength to serve the party and the people,” he said.