The goodwill the JMM generated by nominating late Sudhir Mahto’s widow Savita Mahto for the Rajya Sabha vanished within hours, after RJD chief lalu Prasad, convicted in fodder scam, dictated terms to both the JMM as well as the Congress to support his candidate Premchand Gupta.
The RJD, which has just five members in the State Assembly compared to JMM’s 18 and Congress’ 14, had threatened to take hard step (read withdrawal of support) if the alliance partners did not support Gupta. Gupta, hailing from Haryana, has remained close to lalu for almost 20 years, primarily because of his ability to do his master’s bidding and stay in the background. He organises his logistics as well as looks after lalu’s interests in the national capital.
On the other hand, the AJSU, which swears by the legacy of slain Nirmal Mahto, elder brother of Sudhir Mahto, also supported Parimal Nathwani as an Independent. The BJP also fell in line to support Nathwani. “Nathwaniji has been more local that anyone for Jharkhand and its people. He has raised issues related to Jharkhand,” said BJP leader CP Singh.
In a day filled with drama and suspense, first the Congress did a summersault and visibly to checkmate JMM’s decision, backed Gupta while jettisoning its own candidate and later dragged Hemant Soren along to claim his support. Though, the Chief Minister got a shocker in the evening when three of JMM legislators — Mathura Mahto, Jagarnath Mahto and Vidyut Baran Mahto — resigned as MlA in protest.
However, the revolt of the trio could not upset the apple cart of Gupta and Independent Parimal Nathwani as only two nomination papers were filed till 3 pm on Tuesday, the last day of filing the papers. With this it has also become clear that both the candidates would be elected unopposed and result for this may come even on January 31 after the Election Commission’s approval. Date for poll is February 7.
“The nomination papers would be scrutinised on Wednesday. January 31 is the date for withdrawal and as we have just two candidates against the two seats vacant we will send a report to EC. If approval comes then winners would be announced on the same day,” said Sunil Kumar Singh, Secretary-in-charge of the Assembly and Returning Officer for the biennial elections. Insiders in the Congress were of the view that JMM’s unilateral announcement irked the party who was adamant to send its own candidate in the Upper House.
“This became tough with Savita Mahto’s name and the only way JMM could have been managed if both Congress and RJD came on the same page,” said a top Congress leader. The decision was hard for the JMM to accept as top brass of the Congress — PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat, ClP leader Rajendra Singh — first arrived at Assembly and then left for CM’s House around 11.30 in the morning.
Efforts to convince the JMM leaders continued till 2.45 pm when Hemant Soren, sans any of his party member, arrived to accompany Gupta to the Returning Officer but did not put his sign as his proposer on the nomination forms filed in four sets. Visibly upset, Soren tried to defend the back track. “There is no question of U-turn. The nomination has been filed from the coalition. It is true that JMM had proposed a local and widow of a senior party leader for the Rajya Sabha. It is unfortunate that political parties who talk about locals are supporting an independent candidate. This distorted the arithmetic which prevented us from fielding our own candidate,” said the CM, adding that honouring Savita adequately in the days to come “irrespective of the fate of the Government” would be the responsibility of the JMM.
As per indications from the Rajendra Singh, RS seat falling vacant from the resignation of KD Singh or any Board or Corporation may go to her kitty as compensation. CM also stressed that the move was to prevent horse trading from taking place and rubbished claims that his Government was under any threat. “No threat to the Government and no one can threaten it. JMM is working for strengthening democratic principles in Jharkhand. We tried that no need of election be there,” said the CM.
Though, the defense could not save the JMM from backlash. “We were feeling dishonoured as the party backtracked from its decision to give ticket to Savita. We have resigned as MlA and handed over our resignation to Guruji (JMM supremo Shibu Soren) and requested him to forward it to the Assembly. We don’t know why party bent before RJD and supported an outsider. Both the candidates for Rajya Sabha this time are outsiders and this is unacceptable,” said Mathura Mahto. JMM spokesman Supriyo Bhattacharya said that the Congress ditched the party on the issue of fielding a local candidate.
Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, who had advised the JMM to nominate Savita, said that the U-turn was an insult to a widow and Jharkhand too. “The JMM ditched Savita to save the chair. It is simply political dishonesty,” he alleged.