With the State Government, after more than two months of its formation, started distributing Boards and Corporations, the lollypop kept aside for disgruntled MlAs who were feeling disenchanted after being denied Cabinet berth at the first place, the war is now out in open. When several Independent legislators are still left aside, JMM members have also thrown their hats in the ring.
The race has also intensified as every hopeful is looking for lucrative Boards and Corporations in terms of their budgetary provisions and power coming with; a precious commodity in the given circumstances. While Geeta Koda, Chamra linda and Bidesh Singh have been appointed to run Adityapur Industrial Area Development Authority, Tenughat Vidyut Nigam limited and Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation, respectively likes of Paulus Surin, Anosh Ekka and Arup Chatterjee have turned restless.
"Everyone hopes for something. I have staked claim for Jharkhand Khadi and Village Industries Board and made my intentions known to the Chief Minister as well. I had eyed for JSMDC, but someone else took away. Now I am adamant for the Khadi Board and will take that by hook or by crook," Surin told The Pioneer.
The Board is being presently headed by Jainandu who has been holding the post for the last ten years. Desperate Surin, also a former Maoist hardliner, even went ahead and said that he would snatch the post for himself. "I would remove him for sure. It is also for the party leadership to assert itself. If all the posts go to Independents then all the present party MlAs would turn Independents in the days to come," added the outspoken MlA from Torpa.
Besides Khadi Board, Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board, State Housing Board, Social Welfare Board, Tribal Cooperative Development Corporation, Tribal Development Society, Dharmik Nyas, Ranchi Industrial Area Development Authority etc are the other vacant positions for which the exercise has been initiated.
When asked about the matter Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat said that the Independents would get first preference in the process. "This was the first phase and after accommodating the Independents, people from RJD and others would come. There is no dearth of Boards and Corporations and we have sufficient places vacant. But I would like to make one thing very clear to you that no Congress MlA would be accommodated and if any Board and Corporation comes to the party kitty it would go to its workers," said Bhagat.
Sources also reveled that Nirsa MlA Arup Chatterjee wanted JSMDC and now eyeing for Balidih Industrial Area Development Authority (Biada).
Moreover, there are many others who are eyeing these posts but their tainted background may play a spoilsport. "Hari Narayan Rai and his brother all are facing charges. Cases are also pending against Anosh Ekka and his wife. It may go against them," said a senior Congress leader.