RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, July 18: It remained a catch-22 situation for senior legislator of the Jharkhand assembly Saryu Roy to choose one among the two during the presidential election on Monday. Roy was the last to exercise his franchise at Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha where as many as 80 legislators exercised their franchise for the election of the 16th president of India.
“Both candidates, Droupadi Murmu and Yashwant Sinha are close to me. Thus it remained a tough task for me to choose one of them,” Roy said.
When asked who did he choose, he laughed saying that he was not supposed to divulge this as ‘there is the provision of secret ballot.’ He, however, hinted that he ‘voted to keep the present political scenario and requirement of stability of the union government on the issue of a unit of the integrity of the country in mind.’
When asked to clarify, he said he ‘voted to ensure that the government in the centre should run without hurdles and any conflict.’
However, unlike Saryu Roy, no other legislator had any confusion taking his stand in the election. JMM legislators voted for Murmu and expressed their full solidarity with her.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done the right thing by allowing tribal women to reach the top position of the country. I also appreciate Baba (Shibu Soren) for his decision to support the tribal lady,” Jama MLA and daughter-in-law of JMM Chief Shibu Soren said after she returned to exercising her franchise.
There was talk about Congress tribal legislators defying party lines. When asked regarding this, a section of tribal legislators denied the fact.
“I am here as a congress legislator,” state finance minister Rameshwar Oraon said while other tribal legislators of the party including Rajesh Kachhap, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, Naman Vixel Kongari besides others echoed him.
Congress executive president Bandhu Tirkey commenting on the talk said: “Ye Sab MungeriLal Ke Sapne Hain.”
Notably, BJP was upbeat today. A North Portico of the assembly party organising Secretary Dharampal Singh accompanied by party legislators Amar Bouri, Anant Ojha, Randhir Singh and Naveen Jaiswal were noticed standing confident.
For Shilpi Tirkey it was a unique experience. After she returned to exercising her franchise, he said: “I am fortunate to have voted for the election of president hardly 15 days after I was administered oath as a legislator.”
There was talk that JMM support for Murmu had created a rift in UPA but nothing such appeared from the comment of congress party leaders and legislators.
“JMM is a separate party. We do not have to say anything on that party’s stand on support for the NDA presidential candidate,” said Rameshwar Oraon whether it was not defiance of the UPA unit that JMM supported Murmu.
Congress state president Rajesh Thakur echoed the same. “It is an election for a post of sanctity. It is not contested based on religion and caste. All voted. We will congratulate whoever emerges victorious. We do not have any say on the issue of JMM supporting Murmu,” Thakur said.
Congress legislator Anup Singh said he is not against Murmu but against the party that fielded Murmu. “It is a clash of ideology, nothing else. One should not take it otherwise,” Singh said.
