Cong gears up for lohardaga bypolls

Having secured the backing of High Command, Congress State president Sukhdeo Bhagat has started focusing completely on lohardaga, the constituency all set for upcoming bypolls. In his endeavour, he consulted his rival camps and also said to have turned them into his favour.The State Congress had also called a meeting of party office bearers on August 4 in which support from all the quarters and entire fraternity of the party was sought to win the bypolls. Several teams of the party have also been formed and given duties to hold the fort.

“Sukhdeo Bhagat returned from Delhi after meeting leaders such as Pradeep Balmuchu, Dheeraj Sahu and Rameshwar Oroan who, if not opposing his candidature, were not in his support fully. If ignored, they would have spoiled the party for the PCC president. Now they have accented their support and at least have promised to refrain from meddling with the affairs,” said a senior party functionary.

It is learnt that the PCC chief has agreed to accommodate the rival faction comprehensively in the want of the support extended to him. This may come in the form of giving ample space to the close aides of the sulking leaders who were facing alienation following Bhagat’s accession to the party president post.

“Now the party and all its leaders are focusing completely on winning the polls which is a prestige issue for the ruling coalition and also of Chief Minister Raghubar Das’ near one year stay at the helm. It would be a kind of referendum for his tenure and the BJP and its partners would leave no stone unturned to win the by-polls. We have a definite lead that BJP would back AJSU and any family member of disqualified MlA Kamal Kishore Bhagat would be fielded to garner sympathy votes,” said Jharkhand Congress general secretary Alok Kumar Dubey.

Feeling the heat the Congress has also rushed its arsenals and top leaders including Sukhdeo Bhagat are already camping in the constituency. “This poll is also a question of do-or- die for the JPCC president. He has won the seat once and lost twice, though from very close margins. But his defeat this time would seal his fate and his adversaries would paunch on to him following that. The debacle this time may cost him the post,” said a leader close to Sukhdeo Bhagat.

In this way the PCC chief has also approached Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) which is likely to give him some additional edge over BJP combine. Couples of rounds of initial talks between Bhagat and Hemant Soren have also taken place with some positive results. Moreover biggest spoiler may come for the Congress from Bandhu Tirkey who is hell-bent to fancy his chances in the support of JVM.