Stephen Marandi

Stephen Marandi (born 1953) is an Indian politician from Jharkhand. He is a leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and a member of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. He served as a protem speaker of the fourth and sixth Jharkhand Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Stephen Marandi
Member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 2014
Preceded by	Mistry Soren
Constituency	Maheshpur
In office 1980–2009
Preceded by	Mahadeo Marandi
Succeeded by	Hemant Soren
Constituency	Dumka
2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand
In office 27 August 2008 – 18 January 2009
Chief Minister	Shibu Soren
Preceded by	Sudhir Mahato
Succeeded by	Sudesh Mahto
Personal details
Political party	Jharkhand Mukti Morcha

Early life and education

Marandi is a tribal leader from Dumka, Santhal Pargana. He is the son of late Mangal Marandi. He completed his M.A. in 1976 and LLB in 1978 at Bhagalpur University.^[2]

Career

Marandi was member of Shibu Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. He quit Jharkhand Mukti Morcha due to denial of ticket in 2005 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election and contested as Independent candidate from Dumka constituency against Shibu Soren's son Hemant Soren and defeated him in the election.

In 2005, when former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Babulal Marandi quit Bharatiya Janata Party, he joined Babulal Marandi to form Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik).^[3]

Soon after formation of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), he quit the party and joined hands with Madhu Koda headed government and joined the Indian National Congress soon after. He was also named as Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand.^[2]

In April 2015, he returned to Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) to be re-united with Babulal Marandi.^[4] He won 2014 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election from Maheshpur constituency on Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.^[5][6][7]

On 12 December 2017, the Bharatiya Janata Party called for Marandi's suspension for organizing a kissing contest for tribal couples in Pakur.^[8]