Fearing to loose its ‘sulking’ legislators, the Congress has approached Governor Syed Ahmed seeking his intervention. Complaining about delay in Cabinet expansion by Raghubar Das-led Government, the party has expressed apprehensions that the ruling BJP is eyeing to poach its members and buying time for that.
Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sukhdeo Bhagat on Friday led a delegation of party leaders, including its MlA from Jarmundi Badal Patralekh, to the Raj Bhawan and handed over a memorandum to the Governor demanding Cabinet expansion soon.
“We have drawn the attention of the Governor to the inordinate delay taking place in appointing full Cabinet in the State which is creating issues relating to law and order and development. This apart, it is also a violation of the provisions under the Article 164 (1A) of the Constitution. Also, our members are being lured to cross over,” said Bhagat blaming that the situation had led to a Constitutional crisis in the State. The JMM too had earlier demanded the Governor to intervene in the issue of Cabinet expansion.
Over a month has passed since the incumbent BJP Government took over the reins into hand. Moreover just three Ministers apart from Chief Minister Raghubar Das had taken oath leaving seven Cabinet berths vacant. Media reports suggest that legislators from Congress and the Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha are in touch with the BJP which is four short of a full majority of its own in the House of 81.
The Government is running on the crucial support of the five-member AJSU, the pre-poll partner of the BJP in Jharkhand.
Though, Bhagat tried to suppress the assumption about cracking Congress MlAs claiming that his party was united. “Media reports suggesting that some of our MlAs are willing to cross over are mere speculation. Our MlAs are united as ever. Nevertheless there are efforts to hunt our legislators which is not fair,” said he.
Speculation is rife that Congress MlAs Manoj Kumar Yadav and Irfan Ansari are on the radars of the BJP as they are said to be unhappy over the decision of the Congress leadership to appoint Alamgir Alam as Congress legislative Party leader in the House.
“I believe that the party should have given the responsibility to any vocal leader who is also young. Alamgir Alam is a good leader but he would not be able to flag party’s interest into the House and outside prominently which is needed when the Congress is such a small group in the Assembly this time,” said Ansari, the only other MlA from the minority community after Alam.
Moreover, Badal Patralekh, whose name has also figured among the list of disgruntled MlAs, denied having in touch with any other party. “I am not in touch with anybody. As long as my association is concerned I would be in the Congress ever,” said the first time legislator after accompanying the PCC president to the Governor.
