JMM ready to provide leeway to Cong in lohardaga

Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is willing to provide a leeway to the Congress when it comes to by-election in lohardaga, likely to be held within six months after AJSU Party MlA KK Bhagat lost his membership following conviction by a Ranchi court.The party with 19 seats and leading the Opposition’s herd would do so to make it a chance to soften the ruling BJP a bit.

Sources in the Congress has confirmed that the issue was discussed in details in the two rounds of meetings that took place between leader of Opposition Hemant Soren and Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sukhdeo Bhagat recently. Though the meetings have happened in the pretext of incumbent Rajya Sabha election scheduled on July 2, entire gamut of political issues came for discussion in detail.

“It is learnt that Hemant Soren has sought the Congress’ support for the Rajya Sabha and in return is open to support Congress in the Assembly bye-poll in lohardaga. Final call is yet to be taken but things are moving in positive directions,” said a close aide of the PCC president.Congress’ call on the “offer” may come after approval from party high command but indications are that party would have no hesitation in accepting it. This is also because Sukhdeo Bhagat has been party’s candidate in last three Assembly elections from the seat. Having won lohardaga in 2005, Bhagat lost the two subsequently held in 2009 and 2014 with small margins of nearly 500 votes. On both the occasions, AJSU’s Kamal Kishore Bhagat managed to win the seat.

Confirming to the development, Sukhdeo Bhagat told The Pioneer on Friday, “We have had two rounds of meeting with Hemant Soren and efforts are on to give a common candidate from the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress is quite positive about this and we have informed party’s State in-charge (BK Hariprasad) and looking for his directions. Chances are quite positive (to support JMM’s nominee Haji Hussain Ansari). As far as lohardaga is concerned, formal notification is yet to be made but the party would certainly go for it.”

Officially, JMM is not giving a word on the Assembly poll but seeing merit in Congress’ bonhomie in the pretext of Rajya Sabha and beyond. “Talks are on with the Congress and others and we are positive. lot of time is left for lohardaga and we will look into the situation arising that time before taking a call,” responded JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya who did not reject a united Opposition candidate call for the Assembly bypoll.Winning the Rajya Sabha seat may be JMM’s wildest dream which even the party does not believe in, but through this Hemant Soren is looking to make an opportunity to upset the BJP’s dream run so far in Jharkhand. JMM has been fielding candidate in lohardaga and last time its Sukhdeo Oraon was polled 13510 votes. The unified strategy may come in handy for Bhagat.  

On the other hand, AJSU is not paying much heed to BJP’s claim to the vacant seat. “No question arises (of handing over seat to the BJP). Kheti hamari, katega koi aurIJ We have called core committee meeting of the party on June 30 to discuss the matter,” said party spokesperson Deosharan Bhagat reading BJP president Ravindra Rai’s call as nothing more than pressure tactics.

Signals coming from within the BJP also suggest the same considering the AJSU’s sentiment attached with the seat. Also the Government would not like to borrow tension in the coalition for the constituency where the BJP does not have much stake. It is also possible that AJSU may field wife or any close relative of Kamal Kisore Bhagat to reap the sentiment in its favour and sound vindicated.