Jharkhand Opposition Leader Babulal Marandi returns old security car to government

Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has returned his state-allocated bulletproof car to the Hemant Soren government after it repeatedly broke down during his tours. In a direct letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday, the BJP leader stated that the vehicle assigned to him is 13 years old and dilapidated. He added that the three escort vehicles in his security convoy are in a similar condition, having crossed four lakh kilometres of use.

Details

Mr. Marandi gave the Chief Minister a seven-day deadline to respond and issue an acknowledgment for the returned vehicle through the Home Department. He noted that he had previously written to the Chief Minister on March 21, 2026, pointing out that 17 bulletproof vehicles were bought in December 2024, with three kept for the Chief Minister and two for the Raj Bhavan, while former Chief Ministers are forced to use cars that are 10 to 12 years old. He also stated that former Chief Minister Arjun Munda wrote six letters between July 2024 and June 2026 regarding similar vehicle problems in his security convoy. Furthermore, Mr. Marandi asked who is blocking vehicle replacements "from above" and questioned if new cars are kept only for the Chief Minister while opposition leaders struggle with faulty transport.

Reactions

Reacting to the development, Jharkhand Congress spokesperson Sonal Shanti said the state government will look into the concern. However, he suggested that the blending of ethanol in petrol could be a possible reason for the vehicle breaking down. He cited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks that petrol mixing levels in India have reached 32% to 40% instead of the standard 20%, which could cause engine trouble.

Context

Bulletproof vehicles are routinely provided to high-ranking public figures and opposition leaders by state governments to ensure personal security during official travel and public tours. Vehicle maintenance and timely fleet replacement are critical administrative responsibilities handled by state home departments to prevent transport failures during VIP movements.