There is a storm brewing between the Congress and JVM in Jharkhand. State Congress president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu has accused Jharkhand Vikas Morcha chief Babulal Marandi of playing a double game.

“Marandi speaks against the Congress in the State, but goes and meets senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi time and again to broker compromises. I could give the time and date-wise details of when Marandi met our leaders; once during the last session of Parliament,” claimed Balmuchu.

The Congressman was speaking at a meeting of district party presidents in the State capital on Saturday.

He added that if Marandi and his party were in the battleground, they should fight fair. “Why this hatred towards Congress in Ranchi and then compromise in DelhiIJ” asked Balmuchu. JVM leader Pradeep Yadav ridiculed the accusations, saying, “Ye sab satahi aur chhechhari batein hain (These comments are superficial and vulgar). These accusations are made by a non-serious leader (like Balmuchu) who keeps himself busy by taking photographs of parliamentarians when the House is in session.”

Yadav said his party never requested any meeting with Congress. “He is such huge leader, Congress leaders want to meet him. What is our fault if senior leaders themselves show an urge to meet usIJ”

Yadav also completely rejected any suggestion that the JVM was mulling an alliance. “We are not going to go into any alliance; whether with the BJP or with the Congress,” he said.   However, Balmuchu did accept that the Congress was structurally weak in the State.