Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) swift move seeking prosecution sanction against the MlAs under scanner in horse trading case has put the JMM in the dock. The party, presently in the middle of a renewed effort to enter into a coalition with the Congress, smells a conspiracy behind the CBI move.
The horse trading case of 2012 has sizable number of MlAs from the JMM against which the CBI is preparing to file a chargesheet. In the effort, the premier investigating agency probing the case had sought Speaker CP Singh’s permission and also received the nod within 24 hours on Saturday.
“We have had a definite lead and positive signals from the Congress. Hemant Soren had got an urgent call from Oscar Fernandes on Friday and he immediately left for Delhi. He is still camping in the national Capital but what baffles us the CBI’s action thereafter,” said a senior legislator of the JMM.
As many as four MlAs of the Shibu Soren-led party are under the scrutiny for allegedly selling their votes. Independent candidate RK Agarwal who had been indirectly supported by the JMM is already in the police net and being interrogated for his roles.
“The swift action taken by the CBI may be a double game of the Congress to nail the party before their demands and form a Government with upper hand. They have been a champion of this game,” said another leader.
The action, though can be dubbed to be taken in the pretext of the Jharkhand High Court’s directives, has come when the State Congress created a pressure on its high command in Delhi for entering into an alliance with the JMM. Seven party legislators met senior leaders, including general secretary Oscar Fernandes.
The meeting, unlike the earlier ones, has reportedly yielded something and chances for form a new Government in the State has turned for better.
“Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has given time to Congress legislative Party leader Rajendra Singh and Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat on May 22 to meet. Though the meeting is the lines of other ClP leaders and PCC chiefs meeting him, it is certain that the matters would come up for discussion,” said a Congress leader.