Babulal Marandi is set to be declared leader of Opposition on Monday, highly placed sources in the BJP said.

The elevation of Marandi, who merged his JVM in the BJP on February 17, would happen after a formal meeting of party MLAs ahead of the month-long budget session that starts from Friday.

The central leadership of the BJP is learnt to have expedited the process for the appointment of leader of Opposition besides state and district presidents as part of organisational restructuring.

BJP national general secretary Arun Kumar Singh is set to arrive in Ranchi on Sunday night and Murlidhar Rao, who was appointed as observer for the selection of leader of Opposition, is set to arrive here on Monday morning.

After the entry of Marandi in the party, the central leadership of the BJP is focusing on appointment of a state president for which a couple of names are under consideration. Former chief minister Raghubar Das is also in the list. However, Das’s selection is uncertain thanks to the setback in the recently held Assembly election which was fought under the leadership of Das.

Former party president and former MP Ravindra Rai, Rajmahal MLA Anant Ojha and party general secretary Deepak Prakash are also in the fray.

“State BJP president Laxman Giluwa has overstayed his tenure and he also tendered his resignation from the post following the electoral debacle,” said a senior party leader. “A new president means restructuring at the district level as well. From organisational point of view there are 25 districts (24 districts, and the state capital) for which appointment of president will have to be done. These districts fall in five divisions.”

The party has nominated four members from each division to choose the district presidents.

“The first meeting will be held on Sunday morning at the party office,” said a senior office-bearer of the party.