VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, May 30: Jharkhand Congress President Rajesh Thakur has expressed his anguish over Chief Minister Hemant Soren announcing the candidature of Mahua Maji for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand scheduled on June 10.
So annoyed is the Congress that Mahagama MLA of Dipika Pandey Singh twitted quite cryptically, “Vinash kale viprit buddhi (wisdom spoils before a fall).”
“What he (Hemant Soren) spoke to Sonia Ji in Delhi yesterday and what he announced is in complete contrast. The JMM had sufficient numbers in the Assembly to win the seat and the JMM may not require the support of the Congress. The JMM might have taken the decision while considering several aspects. This is the decision of the JMM so we can’t comment much,” said Rajesh Thakur at a press conference called right after the announcement by the Chief minister.
Rajesh Thakur said that he has informed the central leadership about the announcement made by the Chief Minister in Ranchi. “Our state in-charge Avinash Pande is coming to Ranchi tomorrow. We will then discuss what to do next in the election,” he said.
Hemant Soren left his alliance partner, the Congress, surprised and equally annoyed when he announced the name of Mahua Maji.
In a hurriedly called chaotic press conference at his official residence on Monday, the chief minister said that he had a discussion over this matter with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Hemant Soren said that here in Ranchi he briefed his father and JMM president Shibu Soren.
Till Monday morning, leaders of the Jharkhand Congress were confident that Hemant Soren will oblige the Congress by leaving the seat for the Congress. Leaders assumed that Hemant Soren facing legal and political challenges will fall in the line to keep the Congress happy in order to get the support of the Congress to save his membership in the assembly and a possible money laundering probe.
“We believed that Hemant Soren would honour the word of Soniaji who urged him to support the Congress this time. But he did not,” said a Congress leader.
Rajesh Thakur, former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay and Dr Ajoy Kumar were among the hopeful of Congress lobbying for the ticket. Dr Ajoy Kumar had thrown his entire weight to get the ticket.
Very senior Congress leader claimed that during the meeting with Sonia Gandhi the chief minister pressed for the candidate of his wife Kalpana Soren. But Sonia Gandhi said that there should be a consensus candidate.
“Is this an indication of the chief minister trying to make a distance with the Congress and he is creating a situation where the Congress is compelled to withdraw the support so that he joins hands with the BJP to save his political career which is under threat due to office of the profit controversy and ongoing money-laundering probe? The Congress has always supported the JMM but the JMM has taken us for granted,” said a senior Congress leader.
The JMM has 30 MLS in the Assembly and the number is more than sufficient to win one out of two seats of the Rajya Sabha. The JMM is also aware that the Congress which is left with a few states can hardly afford to dictate the JMM.
