Responding to a query on the delay in expansion of his cabinet, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said on Monday:
“You give me names, I will expand the Cabinet.” Though inadvertently, Soren made it clear that he has no qualms about filling up remaining three ministerial berths to complete the figure of 12 in the Cabinet, his hands are tied due to Congress’ indecision on the matter.
Even after five weeks of Government formation in the State, the Congress appears to be in a huge predicament over choice of three names for ministerial berths. As per the understanding among coalition partners five ministerial berths are to be manned by Congress legislators; however, only two ministers from the Congress have taken oath of office till date. The JMM and the RJD have filled their quota with five and two ministers respectively from their side.
The predicament though appears quite genuine for the Congress, which is looking for legislators with ‘clean’ image and also taking into account representation from major sections of society. Among the fleet of 13 MlAs, Congress has chosen one forward and one tribal. It has to choose three MlAs with clean image representing different sections of society from among the remaining 11.
Congress insiders revealed that the party high command has already given nod to two names — Banna Gupta and Chandrashekhar Dubey — but they are stuck with the third name. Gupta represents the Vaishya community, while Dubey is a veteran labour union leader representing the general community. The Congress is keen on inducting a minority face as the fifth minister but it is not able to find a ‘clean’ image holder, sources said.
Gandey MlA Sarfaraz Ahmed’s name had been proposed initially, but it was struck down given the fact that he was under CBI scanner for the alleged Rajya Sabha horse trading case of 2012, according to sources. Dhanbad MlA Mannan Mallik could have hit the jackpot had he been not involved in the firing incident that took place at Congress Bhawan in Ranchi during the first visit of State in-charge BK Hariprasad.
A political watcher, however, said that if the Congress could not find three MlAs of clean image so far, future of the Grand Old party of India must be not be bright in Jharkhand.
“Opposition do not have any moral right to put blame on us. You must remember how long did it take for last coalition Government to decide on cabinet expansion. We are in consultation with senior leaders of party and final cabinet expansion will take place in two-three days,” said State Congress president Sukhdeo Bhagat.