Talks under way with RJD, JD-U, JVM, AJSU; Plan to project Marandi as CM
Buoyed by the success of pre-poll alliance with the RJD and the JD (U) in Bihar, the Congress is now planning another ‘Grand Alliance’ for the Assembly polls in other States. Senior party leaders are working to bring on board ‘similar-minded secular parties’ under one umbrella for the Jharkhand Assembly elections.
“The party has now decided to look into Congress’ Shimla resolution which invited all progressive-thinking institutions and political movements to join hands with the party. Party leaders believe that the results in Bihar were because of non-fragmentation of the secular votes in the state. Three months after its spectacular showing in lok Sabha polls, the BJP received a jolt in the by-elections which puts a question mark on the existence of Modi-wave,” said Congress spokesperson Rajeev Gowda.
Congress sources said that talks in this regard will be initiated once RJD chief lalu Prasad Yadav recovers from heart surgery in Mumbai. The Congress is also talking to JD (U), JVM, AJSU and a few more parties. The tie-up may also include 20 smaller and independent groups that can be crucial to formation of government in the state.
The talk of Grand Alliance has already been initiated by Congress leaders Ahmad Patel, Digvijay Singh and A K Antony while JVM chief Babulal Marandi, it is learnt, may be called for a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi once she returns from abroad next week.
According to the Congress, the party leadership is open to the option of projecting JVM chief and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi as the chief ministerial candidate of the Grand Alliance, in case the ruling alliance partner JMM decides to go alone. In what is being seen as a political set-up between the Congress and the JVM, former Jamshedpur MP from JVM Dr Ajay Kumar last week joined the Congress.
Besides, the Congress is also interested in bringing other regional parties like AJSU to counter the charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on whom the BJP is relying heavily after his success in the lok Sabha polls.
In the current assembly, the Congress has 13 MlAs, while JMM and BJP have 18 each. There is one nominated member. It is widely felt that the current Congress-JMM coalition government formed last year after the breakup of JMM-BJP Government has not been working smoothly and JMM has already expressed interest to go alone in the coming assembly polls.
“As of now the Grand Alliance may have the Congress, RJD, JD-U, JVM and AJSU. Others and independents interested may also join us,” said a Congress leader. Requesting anonymity, the leader said that Marandi could be projected as the chief ministerial candidate as he has his good following and reputation.