Battle lines are drawn for the Rajya Sabha seat going under poll on Thursday. With the Jharkhand High Court clearing the way of the six erstwhile JVM members to exercise their franchise, BJP-backed MJ Akbar’s stroll to the Upper House is looking beyond any doubt.The JVM had questioned the legality of six MlAs — Randheer Singh, Amar Kumar Bauri, Alok Chaurasia, Janki Prasad Yadav, Naveen Jaiswal and Ganesh Ganjhu — casting their votes as BJP members in the indirect election and challenged the decision of the Returning Officer in this regard.
Nevertheless, the HC hearing the petition on Wednesday rejected the contention of JVM supremo Babulal Marandi and paved way for casting their votes on July 2.The decision, interim may be, has taken the numbers in the favour of MJ Akbar beyond the magic figure, i.e. 41. The BJP has 43 MlAs, including the Speaker and taking along four of the AJSU, the coalition partner in the Raghubar Das Government, the vote of support reaches at least 47. The AJSU had five MlAs but after found guilty in a criminal case and sentenced for seven years, Kamal Kishore Bhagat has been disqualified from the Assembly.
The optimism coming out of the arithmetic was behind MJ Akbar’s statement. “All the MlAs of the NDA are united and there is no second opinion on the issue. As far as Opposition’s rhetoric about outsider vs insider is concerned, my deeds would speak louder than my tongue,” he said after arriving Ranchi on Wednesday and attending the BJP legislative body meeting.On the contrary, the Opposition camp was banking heavily on the HC decision which could have narrowed the gap between the ruling party candidate and its Haji Hussain Ansari.
JMM nominee Ansari so far has been successful in pocketing support of all the Opposition MlAs that takes him up to 33 provided all the members turn up and vote. Truncated two-member JVM has already declared to vote for Ansari. When asked about any ‘plan B’ in store for tomorrow, the JMM pretended to have the rabbit that would come out of hat on time. “As of now no magic plan or figure but yes, it may be! Those who are loyal to Jharkhand’s soil would vote for Haji and those who are betrayers would vote for an outsider,” party general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya told The Pioneer in a desperate attempt to play ‘son of the soil’ card.last minute strategy remained also on with leaders of JMM, Congress and JVM sat together. Congress sounded its support for Ansari but left technical vents open. “It is sure that Congress MlAs would not vote for the BJP candidate.
They are willing to support a local candidate. But final call has to be taken by Delhi in our party. I do not think there is any need to issue whip as all the members are united,” said Congress legislative Party leader Alamgir Alam.Whereas party MlA Irfan Ansari said that no instruction has come from the party so far regarding the Rajya Sabha. “We are in wait and watch mode. If whip is not being issued then any MlA would be free to vote anywhere,” said the Jamtara legislator. later, Hemant Soren confirmed that the entire Opposition was united and vote for the JMM nominee. However, real challenge before the JMM would be to ensure at least 33 votes considering the indifferent single member parties, six in this case that includes one Bhanu Pratap Shahi of Navjawan Sangharsh Morcha who is languishing in jail.