Gradually fading prospects of Government formation have sent out an unofficial SOS to probable Congress candidates — get, set & go for elections! The MlAs, otherwise fully backing the endeavour to form a Government with the help of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), have now gone back to their groves to prepare for any situation.
Though there is sufficient time left for the present Assembly to complete its term, party leaders and ticket hopefuls are unsettled. “They (the leadership) have kept us in uncertainty. Neither do they say yes, nor a clear no. What we want is a clear signal about poll preparations — if it is the only option — and the party’s backing in preparing for it. The party is nowhere and only individual efforts will not work in the elections,” said a Congress legislator.
The sense in the State Congress is that the high command is slowly but surely moving away from Government formation, and that it is only consistent pressure from MlAs which is delaying a final no. The Central Congress leadership is also not sure about JMM respecting any agreement, when polls for Assembly and lok Sabha approach.
“Whatever I am doing is on an individual basis,” said Radha Krishna Kishore, who is eying Chhatarpur constituency, currently held by Sudha Chaudhary of the JD(U). “There is no guidance from the party about poll preparations. I am afraid the party will not even have started preparing for polls at the State level. This is the situation everywhere and whatever any leader is doing has been in personal capacity,” he added.
Off the record, several leaders admitted that Congress presence at booth-level was sliding with every passing day and lots of effort would be required to reverse the situation. “What the party needed is an extensive campaign well ahead of polls. Otherwise, whatever seat the party gets (in the next Assembly election) would be on a personal capacity of leaders, unlike the JVM, which is performing under a unified banner,” said one leader.
In addition, most of those elected are first-timers in the House and have been hit by the zigzag stint, with President’s Rule interrupting twice.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat, who got a handful of instructions on organisational revamp in Jharkhand from party national vice-president Rahul Gandhi very recently, accepts the lack of impetus.
“It is there but because of the heat, we are not going all out. We will certainly hold rallies across the State and come out in the support of our candidates. I have started meeting people and you can see lots of district presidents visiting the party office daily,” he said defensively.
On the other hand, the high command has given a specific role to Jairam Ramesh in Jharkhand, in view of his frequent visits and familiarity with the people. The Union Minister for Rural Development would prepare ground for the party before Assembly and general elections.
“He is a very capable leader and his ideas would certainly help us. He has taken the responsibility of his own,” said Bhagat, dropping sufficient hints that the Congress has taken a stride along the poll path, and a step back from the current bonhomie with JMM.