Newly appointed Congress Jharkhand in-charge RPN Singh had a tough time in his three-day stay facing dissidents first and then volley of questions about the follow up action. The former Union Minister nonetheless admitted about the quarrels emanating from inside but could not assure about what will happen to the fate of the party in the State.
Clearly tasked to bring the party on track, when asked about open rebellion of party’s Jamtara MlA Irfan Ansari targeting none other than State Congress chief Sukhdeo Bhagat, the in-charge played defensive.
“I know about these things and have at length discussed with such leaders. They all have assured me to work together and for strengthening the party at every level. Now there is no such statement coming,” said RPN Singh in a media interaction at the end of his series of meetings with party legislators, block and district presidents and thousands of workers over past three days.
Ansari along with Barhi MlA Manoj Yadav have been critical to Sukhdeo Bhagat inside and outside the party forums and openly aired their disbelief in his leadership. He walked in with same flares into the in-charge’s meeting with party legislators which Panki MlA Devender Singh not even considered worth attending.
“I am looking into these issues. But you (the media) should also look into what is happening in the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka or several other places. It is everywhere,” said the in-charge. He also ducked question about forging an alliance with Opposition parties like the Congress did in Bihar, without denying such developments cooking inside.
“These things are discussed and settled at highest level and do not get discussed with the media. Why should I revel that hereIJ Also the elections are two years away. Till then instead the Congress would work to bring its own house in order and would look into these matters when elections come,” he replied.
The leaders, flanked by Sukhdeo Bhagat, ClP leader Alamgir Alam and AICC spokesperson Ajoy Kumar, cited example of Opposition unity coming in the form of recently concluded presidential elections where JMM and JVM voted together for the Congress nominee. However the tally of the parties in huddle remained short from expected.
Depicting future plans at hand, RPN Singh said that the party was going to hold a massive protest against CNT-SPT amendments underway, farmer distress and law and order situation. “The Prime Minister during his election tours of Jharkhand had promised that no change would be done in the CNT-SPT Acts which have been shield of tribals... Congress would organise gherao the Assembly on August 9 and raise our concerns inside the House as well,” said he.