Recent adverse report about the Congress ministers in the Hemant Soren Government and their controversial comments on various issues got a hit on Friday when BK Hariprasad cautioned them against their public musings.
The in-charge of party affairs in Jharkhand during about two and half hour long closed door meeting with the ministers apparently told them to focus on the tasks assigned and not fuel controversial issues that can hit 'secular and pan-India' image of the party.
Sources conveyed this to The Pioneer that the matter was discussed in details in the meeting and the in-charge made it very clear to the State unit that no such comments should be given to the media that can erode the image and health of the coalition Government. The ministers along with Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat have also been told bluntly that the party was not getting benefited as expected after coming into the government in Jharkhand.
Visibly annoyed with the ministers' statements in the media Hariprasad passing a veiled warming said, "From now on policy matters only Congress legislature party leader, party's state unit head and I can speak in public and no one else could speak about these. If they have said something it must be due to their ignorance and I am making sure that nothing of this sort happens in future. It would not happen again."
HRD Minister Geetashree Oraon has more than once spoken about domicile policy and seems to blocking way of the so-called 'outsiders' in teachers' appointment. As all eyes were on her, Geetashree quickly took a somersault. "I had said that I am not authorised and what gets decided in the Coordination Committee would be made applicable here."
Sukhdeo Bhagat later clarified that domicile issue came for discussion in the meeting. "We are a national party. We would work as per the directions of the party high command. These are controversial issues. We have to take into consideration the social fabric and see policy framework in national perspective."
Congress Minister Chadrashekhar Dubey has also openly criticized the Chief Minister for not allotting 'sufficient' departments to him and his colleagues which, according to him, is proving detrimental. He had also questioned the rationale behind Hemant Soren sitting on so many departments. When asked about the outbursts, Hariprasad termed this the CM's prerogative which cannot be taken away by anyone.
He also declined giving scores to his Ministers and rather lauded Energy Minister Rajendra Singh. Nevertheless Dubey and Geetashree Oraon were quick to jump claiming 'good works' have taken place in their respective departments too.
Hariprasad also tried to be as diplomatic as he can when asked about the performance of the Congress Ministers. "All our ministers are doing good work and I am fully satisfied with it," he said terming "the adverse report referred in the media" as a BJP plank. All the ministers but one Mannan Mallick along with Bhagat attended the meeting.
The meeting also saw lok Sabha poll issue coming for discussion. All the five Ministers would be designated to ten constituencies by giving two to each of them. "They would work for securing win for the party in the lok Sabha constituency. 10-4 formula is there and there is no conflict over it (between the JMM and Congress)," said Hariprasad.
However, he was not sure about mileage the party would receive in next general election because of the party sharing power in Jharkhand. He also put joint responsibility for poll debacle in case the coalition receives in the State.