Hearing the siren of Assembly polls, the Jharkhand Congress has entered into its summit level exercise. Aimed to manoeuvre the poll strategies the party has called a high level meeting of all its MlAs and MPs belonging to the State.
The Pradesh Congress Committee has called the meeting on September 22 in Ranchi comprising all the elected representatives of the party which will also be attended by AICC general secretary BK Hariprasad.
“Our PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat has called the all important meeting of the MPs and MlAs which would discuss the strategy related to Assembly polls. It is more important as BK Hariprasad would also be attending the meeting,” said lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo, media committee member of the party.
The meeting is taking place after chairman of the party’s screening committee Bhawar Jitendra Singh had last week only hold a consultation with various organisations of State Congress and leaders and workers coming from block and district levels.
“We are focusing largely on finalising candidates well in time and send the list to the party high command in Delhi for their approval. After consultation with local party workers we also want to take the views of our MPs and MlAs. This apart, we would also discuss the coalition issue,” said Sukhdeo Bhagat.
Sources in the party informed that most of the MlAs were in the favour of going into polls with a ‘grand alliance’ which would improve chances of their win. The alliance would pose lesser number of candidates into fray and chances of vote division, especially of secular in nature, would be minimised.
“They have felt a need to fight united to a resurgent BJP and for this bringing all the secular forces on single platform is necessary. As most of the sitting MlAs are confident of getting ticket and natural clamant of their respective sitting constituencies. This is also likely to made task of the alliance partners easier as none would stake a claim over the sitting seat other than the party holding it,” said a senior party leader.
Nevertheless the task of seat sharing is easier said than done. Congress at the same time is still undecided to go its way, i.e. remaining with the JMM or tie up the Babulal Marandi-led JVM ahead of the polls. JMM’s demand for lion’s share which has touched 50 seats out of total 81 has made the Congress irritated. Also, JMM’s reservation on partnering with the JVM has pushed the party into corner as it is trying its best to either forge the grand alliance bringing both the JMM and the JVM besides RJD, JD(U) together.
“We have to resolve the issue as early as possible. If we could not present a united face it can be disastrous for all of us. Talks are on (with JVM) but stiff stand of the JMM is blocking the way,” said the leader. It is also learnt that Marandi has put condition to declare him as CM candidate ahead tie-up.