Hours of deliberations and series of meetings with central leadership on Sunday in Delhi talked everything about Jharkhand but decided less. One of the moot questions before the Jharkhand Congress over continuation of its support to the JMM-led Government and also taking the coalition beyond the Assembly polls remained officially unanswered at least for now.
Host of leaders from Jharkhand Congress including Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sukhdeo Bhagat, ClP leader Rajendra Singh, former Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay, Pradeep Balmuchu, Dheeraj Sahu, Rameshwar Oraon and few others went into huddle firstly with State in-charge BK Hariprasad and later with AK Anthony; party general secretary and the leader responsible to oversee alliances.
Ministers from Congress quota in the Hemant Soren Government also participated. “We have met and again going to meet AK Antony and party high command in the evening. The Ministers have been told to present their work plan. Talks about coalition with the JMM would also take place in the meeting,” said Rajendra Singh.
The exercise apart; insiders into the party are of the view that pulling out of the Government is highly unlikely at this moment for the Congress. “The Congress may not have gained much due to coalition but it is not going to gain either from withdrawing the support. Feedback from most of the leaders from Jharkhand is also that the party would find tough to make the voters understand why it pulled the Government down when the election is so close and why is had supported it at the first place,” said a Congress Minister part of the delegation.
Similar sentiment also expressed by the tallest leader in the Government and also in the party Rajendra Singh. “We are deliberating upon how to win the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State. Though the party high command is going to take the call on the subject but as of now there is nothing like snapping the ties with the JMM is going to happen,” said the ClP leader after coming out of a meeting on Sunday.
Party sources said that none of the leader enjoying perks in the Government wants to leave the laal batti nor to face an early election. “They have been giving negative feedbacks to the central leadership and showing the fear of Modi factor and surge of the BJP in Jharkhand. The party also fears to face whatever anti-incumbency the Government has gathered so far and wants to delay the inevitable,” said a leader close of Delhi circuit.
On the contrary, PCC chief Sukhdeo Bhagat reported to have objections over continuing in the Government and seems to have pushing the point that the party is not getting benefited enough. He has backings of some leaders who is out of the Government.
On the question of partnering the JMM into the polls the Congress is not sure about getting affirmative reply from the Shibu Soren party. “It is very likely that JMM decides to walk alone during Assembly elections. The chances are rife considering better show by the JMM in parliamentary polls by winning two seats against none by the Congress. local party JMM would certainly be a formidable force than Congress and the later need more the former than vice versa,” said a top State Congress leader.
The maneuvering may have also contributed to early posturing by the Congress. The party is not confident of finding suitable candidates for all the 81 seats in the State.