RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Jan.28: The Congress high command is contemplating to compensate the loss of R.P.N.Singh by bringing back its two senior leaders, Pradeep Balmuchu and Sukhdeo Bhagat, who had left the party before the assembly election in 2020 and joined the Ajsu Party and the BJP respectively.
Balmuchu had joined the Ajsu party after the Congress denied to make him party candidate from Ghatshila constituency and Bhagat had left the party after having difference of opinion with Singh. Both contested the elections but were defeated.
“Their return will be a message to the NDA camp that if UPA’s one leader associated with Jharkhand can shift loyalty two leaders of Jharkhand can also shift their loyalty. It will also be used to indicate that change of loyalty does not guarantee victory in an election,” a party insider said.
“Those attempting to bring Bhagat back are some of the senior leaders sitting in Delhi while those attempting to bring Balmuchu back are Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu and state minister Rameshwar Oraon. Justification for the return is given as both are tribals and have experience of holding the post of state president of the party,” the insider added.
State president Rajesh Thakur, who is camping in Delhi after Singh changed his loyalty, could not be contacted for his comment on the development but the party insider said ‘talks are in the last stage and both the former Congress party leaders will soon meet the key person of the party Rahul Gandhi and if everything goes well announcement of their return is possible with arrival of AICC Jharkhand in-charge tomorrow. It is quite possible these leaders will be used in the UP election to control the damage which the Congress party has suffered due to the shift of loyalty of Singh. ’
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