Hours before JVM chief Babulal Marandi is set to merge his party in the BJP on Monday, two of the expelled MLAs of the JVM Bandhu Tirkey and Pradeep Yadav today claimed that they represent the actual JVM and formally announced merging the JVM in the Congress.

The ripples were instantly felt in the Congress camp.

One of the working presidents of the Congress and Jamtara MLA Irfan Ansari held a news meet and threatened to resign as working president if Yadav joined the Congress.

Launching a frontal attack, Ansari said: “I don’t have a problem with Tirkey. But the entire party will offended if a rapist like Yadav is welcomed in the party. Our leader Rahul Gandhi launched a campaign against rape. Rahulji was kept in the dark that Yadav is a rapist and third-rate political extortionist. He ruined the JVM and he will create mischief if he joins the Congress.”

“I will resign from my post as I can’t tolerate the destruction of my party,” Ansari said.

The acrimony between Ansari and Yadav goes back a long way. Ansari on Sunday accused Yadav of framing his father Furkan Ansari, also a noted politician, in a fake arms case in 2005.

Later, Ansari told The Telegraph: “Sad and bad days for the Congress.” He alleged that Yadav had tried to harm him in the Assembly elections.

Tirkey and Yadav who were expelled from the JVM for “anti-party activities” held a meeting with their supporters at Tirkey’s residence at Banhora.

“We represent the JVM. And today we have decided to merge the JVM in the Congress. Our main aim is to strengthen secularism. Babulal Marandi is power-hungry and has decided to play in the lap of the communal BJP,” Yadav said. “Our merger proposal has been sent to the Congress.” Sources said both wanted to join the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi.

Home minister Amit Shah will come to Ranchi on Monday to welcome Marandi to the BJP, state BJP general secretary Deepak Prakash said.