It is hard to believe that a State Congress president sidestepped the firm opinion of party high command on electoral matters and went ahead with his own judgement. But the party quite known for its ‘yes boss’ culture had witnessed this during last Assembly polls when Jharkhand Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat went alone into the polls by writing off the opinion expressed by the party bosses.
Sources in the party revealing the exchanges having taken place between the establishments in Ranchi and Delhi during the run-up to the polls say that Bhagat had even presented his head in case electoral defeat happens. “The high command was firm to go along with the ruling partner JMM into the polls. But the PCC president opposed it and had even committed before them that if the performance of the party goes down he would owe the entire responsibility.
He did this so that tickets can be ensured to as many party cadres and their kith and kin as possible which would make the party stronger,” said a leader who was one of the party candidates. Nevertheless, the PCC chief’s chair is presently in turmoil thanks to the same partymen for whom he had presented himself before the high command. A faction of the party comprising Furkan Ansari, Pradeep Balmuchu and co. is burning midnight oil in Delhi seeking head of Bhagat. The group met even party chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday complaining the leadership qualities of Bhagat.
It is pertinent to mention here that son and daughter of Furkan Ansari and Pradeep Balmuchu respectively got a chance to fight election from Santhal Pargana region, considered stronghold of the JMM. “Had Sukhdeo Bhagat yielded to the party high command’s opinion and agreed to tie up with the JMM before the elections then the leaders who had lost their own polls before and went on margins would not have suffered. PCC president preferred to keep the cadre and party intact and stressed on building the organisation,” said a leader privy to the developments.
Congress despite partnering with the JMM into the Government had chosen to part ways with it and fought on all the seats sharing some with the RJD and JD-U. The party managed to secure just six seats, more than halfway down by its 2009 tally of 13. Bhagat could not manage to win his own election. “Now the same bunch of leaders, the PCC president fought for, are playing a traitor and exposing the internal rife of the party instead of building it. They could have worked to make the party even stronger and prepare it keeping in mind the future of the Congress party. Furkan Ansari had even gone ahead and pleaded with Hemant Soren to ensure win for his son Irfan Ansari from Jamtara,” he said.
In the meantime, Bhagat also left for Delhi on Wednesday evening and likely to meet party top brass on these issues besides the other organisational matters. “The anti-party activities by some of the leaders may figure into the meeting. As far as change of guard in the State is concerned the high command is fully equipped to take a call,” said the PCC president.