As the political temperature continues to rise with poll date inching closure, the national spokesperson of the Congress Party Alok Sharma on Tuesday dropped a bombshell claiming that the BJP and RSS leaders are in touch with them to ensure that the BJP candidate from Jamshedpur East ( Purnima Sahu Das) is defeated in this election. Without taking names of any party leader, Sharma said that even the workers and leaders of the saffron party do not want that a ‘particular family’ is given the reign to rule the city for another five years.
" It is really surprising that for the first time the BJP and RSS are reaching to us to ensure that their candidate is made to lose the elections," he claimed.
Sharma took pot shots on Das’s tenure, alleging his inaction and false promises had left residents of East Jamshedpur struggling. Sharma claimed that over 25 years, Das's promises of development and new business ventures failed to materialize. "He made tempting promises but neither secured ownership rights nor attracted new companies. Many businesses closed or relocated, leaving workers jobless while Das, the so-called 'messiah of workers,' remained silent," he stated.
Sharma mocked Das’s grand schemes, saying, "Jharkhand saw nothing from 'Momentum Jharkhand' but an empty treasury spent on grand but unproductive ventures." He further noted that if Congress candidate Dr. Ajoy Kumar wins, they will prioritize securing ownership rights and reopening businesses, providing much-needed employment to locals. Additionally, he pledged to improve educational and healthcare services in the area.
Highlighting the significance of ownership rights, Sharma said the Congress party would conduct surveys in major cities, including Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Bokaro, to address this long standing issue. "We aim to pass an ordinance to bring legal stability to ownership issues," he stated.
In the field of education, Sharma announced plans for "15 CM Model Schools" to cater to students from economically disadvantaged families. These schools would offer English-medium education, and a relief fund would support financially weaker families in paying school fees.
Dr. Ajoy Kumar, Congress’s candidate from East Jamshedpur, also aims to revive closed businesses and encourage Tata Steel to reintegrate these ventures. Sharma highlighted incidents of business closures, like Toyo Rolls and Tata Agrico in 2016, attributing them to Das’s lack of support.
Furthermore, the Congress spokesperson highlighted Jharkhand government’s recent initiatives under the Congress-JMM coalition, including the increase in monthly financial aid to women from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500, benefiting nearly 50 lakh women. He also noted that the coalition had introduced a 10% reservation for economically weaker sections among upper castes and simplified access to caste certificates for SC, ST, and OBC communities in Jamshedpur.
Sharma concluded by emphasizing the need for change, saying, "People of East Jamshedpur have been demanding accountability. A vote for Dr. Ajoy Kumar would bring development, end local political dominance, and support the people’s welfare."
