VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Feb. 23: Trouble seems to be brewing in the UPA alliance in Jharkhand after the Congress leader and Health Minister Banna Gupta accused Chief Minister Hemant Soren of trying to politically finish the Congress.
Out of four Congress ministers in the Hemant Soren-led JMM-Congress-RJD government, Gupta is the only minister who openly said that Hemant Soren was slowly pushing the Congress to death in Jharkhand.
“If I have charged the CM, it is not unfounded. He wants to finish our party and to capture our support base. The CM doesn’t take the alliance partner in confidence while taking a policy decision. Hindi was withdrawn from Jharkhand which is not acceptable to us. The government created language controversy and bitterness among people,” Gupta said.
When asked why he did not oppose the omission of Hindi when the proposal was brought before the cabinet, he said that ministers are never provided with cabinet notes.
“Cabinet notes and files are provided to ministers barely half an hour before the cabinet meeting starts. In half an hour you can’t go into the details of all proposals. I don’t remember on which day that proposal was placed. But I had raised objections over the manner cabinet meetings are held where ministers are completely clueless. We are never consulted in any policy decision. The CM takes decisions that suit him,” Gupta said.
“CM thinks that he is heading a majority government. He should not forget that he is heading a coalition government in the majority,” he said.
Congress ministers felt sidelined in para teachers’ issue
Asked when and how the Congress felt sidelined, Gupta referred to the instance of the para teachers. “In the manifesto, we had promised the para teachers to resolve their issue. From the first day, we were negotiating and chasing the matter. And when the government announced the formula for their regularization, the JMM and the chief minister took the credit of all. We were thrown like a fly from the milk,” he said.
Finance minister not consulted on fuel subsidy
Banna Gupta said that the chief minister announced the fuel subsidy but did not consult the finance minister Rameshwar Oraon. “What else can we say when the chief minister doesn’t deem it fit to take his finance minister into confidence,” he said.
Churning at Chintan Shivir
The three days, Chintan Shivir of the Congress concluded on Tuesday gave enough space to leaders to express their concerns about the party and the government in front of the central leadership.
Even Alamgir Alam who is the rural development minister admitted during the meeting that they are not provided with cabinet notes and the chief minister acts in an isolated manner. He said that the achievements of the Congress’ ministers are not given prominence and what particularly worries him is the fact that the Congress has not been able to implement its manifesto.
Now Congress is pressing for the common minimum programme and a coordination committee for better check and balance. It wants to head the coordination committee.
Whether Hemant Soren carving political space at the cost of the Congress
During the Chintan Shivir leaders were invited for the group discussion on various topics and political issues. Attempts were also made to look beyond 2024. Many believed that Hemant Soren has a long-term political plan and he is going to do with the Congress what exactly Lalu Prasad Yadav did in Bihar. Hemant Soren is consolidating the vote bank of tribals (including Christian tribals) and Muslims. Such issues and controversies are raised that will polarize tribals and Muslims. The Congress feels that by creating a divide between Jharkhandi and non-Jharkhandi language and a feeling of outsider and insider, Hemant Soren is playing his cards well. At least two Congress MLAs Rajesh Kacchap and Jaimangal Singh said that such things will damage urban voters of the Congress. Even whatsoever tribal and Muslim voters are left with the Congress Hemant Soren is winning them to his party fold.
“No wonder Hemant Soren wants to become Mamata Banerjee of Jharkhand who finished all like-minded parties and emerged as a single entity. The way things are going, Hemant Soren may not require the Congress in 2024,” said a leader.
