Congress MLAs' Abstention in Rajya Sabha Polls: Bihar Party Chief to Submit Report
Patna: State Congress president Rajesh Ram is expected to submit his detailed report to the party high command within the next couple of days regarding the abstention of three Congress MLAs during the crucial Rajya Sabha election held on Monday. This abstention proved to be a decisive factor in the electoral outcome, significantly impacting the political landscape in Bihar.
Abstention Leads to Grand Alliance Defeat
The abstention of these three Congress legislators proved crucial, leading directly to the defeat of the Grand Alliance candidate and sitting Rajya Sabha member Amarendra Dhari Singh. This development paved the way for the victory of the NDA's fifth nominee, Shivesh Kumar, altering the balance of power in the upper house of Parliament.
"Our state party president will send a detailed report to the high command in the next few days on the non-participation of our party's three MLAs in the Rajya Sabha election. This was one of the factors that led to the defeat of the GA candidate," stated state Congress media department head and spokesman Rajesh Rathore.
Identifying the Abstaining MLAs
Four Grand Alliance MLAs abstained from voting on Monday, including three from the Congress party and one from the RJD, Faisal Rehman from Dhaka. The three Congress MLAs who chose not to participate in the voting process are:
- Surendra Kushwaha from Valmiki Nagar
- Manoj Biswas from Forbesganj
- Manohar Prasad Singh from Manihari
Political Background of the Abstaining MLAs
Interestingly, all three Congress MLAs have a history of political shifts and affiliations with different parties. Surendra Kushwaha was previously associated with the party led by Upendra Kushwaha before joining the Congress. Manohar Prasad Singh began his political career with the JD(U), winning his first assembly election in 2010, before later securing victory three times on a Congress ticket. Meanwhile, Manoj Biswas previously served as the Araria district general secretary of the RJD before switching to the Congress party.
Potential Action Against the MLAs
Regarding potential disciplinary measures, Rathore indicated that the state president might not personally recommend action against the three MLAs since they technically did not indulge in cross-voting but rather abstained from voting. However, he noted that they have made unpalatable remarks about the party leadership, which could factor into any decisions.
"The party high command will take action against them," Rathore emphasized, adding that the state president's report would be sent directly to party president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal for review and appropriate action.
Worker Sentiment in Bihar
When asked about the feelings of Congress workers in Bihar following this incident, Rathore revealed that there is significant anger among the party's rank and file against what the three MLAs did. This sentiment reflects broader discontent within the party organization regarding the abstention that contributed to the electoral setback.
The upcoming report from state president Rajesh Ram is expected to provide comprehensive details about the circumstances surrounding the abstention, the MLAs' explanations for their actions, and recommendations for how the party should address this situation moving forward.
