Ranchi: Shortly after the filing of nominations on Monday, Jharkhand Congress affairs in-charge K Raju and other senior party leaders convened an urgent meeting with all 16 MLAs in the assembly to fine-tune strategies ahead of the Rajya Sabha election for two seats scheduled on June 18.
Three-Cornered Contest Intensifies
The entry of outgoing MP from Andhra Pradesh and industrialist Parimal Nathwani into the fray has transformed the contest into a three-cornered battle. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announcing its support for Nathwani, the Congress has become more cautious about maintaining unity within its ranks, given the internal infighting and dissent that often plague the party.
Measures to Prevent Horse-Trading
Sources indicate that the Congress may consider relocating its MLAs to safer locations to thwart any attempts of horse-trading by rival camps. The party is also contemplating discussions with Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who leads the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) government.
After the meeting, Congress Deputy Leader in the Assembly Rajesh Kachchap stated, "We all are united and will remain so. However, depending on the situation, the party could take any decision in the future."
For now, all Congress MLAs will continue to stay in their constituencies or in Ranchi to be readily available whenever required. Another party office-bearer added, "If needed, we will take a decision in consultation with INDIA bloc leader (Hemant) on this issue."
Alliance Stands United
Minister and Mahagama MLA Deepika Pandey Singh remarked, "Yes, an important meeting of the Congress legislature party was held in the assembly. These are part of our preparations. BJP, which is once again trying to play dirty politics, should worry about numbers, not us. The party and INDIA alliance stand united with full strength and solidarity, committed to constitutional values, social justice, and public interest."
Numbers Game
The JMM-Congress-RJD-CPI(ML) alliance has 56 members in the 81-member assembly. To win a seat, a candidate requires the support of 28 MLAs. With 34 MLAs in its kitty, the JMM candidate is expected to sail through easily. The Congress, with 16 MLAs, needs backing from 12 MLAs from allies, including the RJD (4) and CPI-ML (2).
Preventing Chinks in the Armor
The challenge lies in preventing any cracks, even though all allies vowed to stay united following a meeting under the aegis of Hemant on Sunday night. The Congress passed its initial hurdle on Sunday after AICC observers — former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior party worker Ajay Shah — lobbied hard with Hemant, who is also JMM president, to bring everyone on the same page. As JMM hardened its stand last week after Congress named its candidate, the AICC rushed the observers to firefight the brewing dissent.
About the Author: ASRP Mukesh holds over 15 years of journalistic experience. He covers government, politics, and human interest stories from Jharkhand.
