Cong may face uphill task to get nominee elected to RS

Ranchi: Soon after filing of nominations on Monday, Jharkhand Congress affairs in-charge K Raju and other party top brass huddled in an emergent meeting with all 16 MLAs in the assembly to fine-tune modalities in the run-up to Rajya Sabha election for two seats on June 18.

The entry of outgoing MP from Andhra Pradesh and industrialist Parimal Nathwani into the fray has turned the contest into a three-cornered one. With BJP announcing its support to Nathwani, the Congress is also more cautious to keep its own flock intact, considering the infighting and dissent which it is often confronted with.

Sources said the party may also consider shifting its MLAs to safer places to prevent attempts of horse-trading by the rival camp. It is also mulling talks with chief minister Hemant Soren, who heads the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) govt.

After the meeting, Rajesh Kachchap, Congress deputy leader in the assembly, told TOI, “We all are united and will remain so. However, depending on the situation, the party could take any decision in future.”

For now, all Congress MLAs will continue to remain in their constituencies or in Ranchi to be able to respond whenever called. Another party office-bearer added, “If needed, we will take a decision in consultation with INDIA bloc leader (Hemant) on this issue.”

Minister and Mahagama MLA Deepika Pandey Singh said, “Yes, an important meeting of the Congress legislature party was held in the assembly. These are part of our preparations. BJP, which is once again trying to play dirty politics, should worry about numbers, not us. The party and INDIA alliance stand united with full strength and solidarity, committed to constitutional values, social justice, and public interest.”

The JMM-Congress-RJD-CPI(ML) alliance has 56 members in the 81-member assembly. To win a seat, a candidate require 28 MLAs. With 34 MLAs in its kitty, the JMM candidate is expected to sail through easily, while Congress has 16 MLAs and requires support of 12 MLAs from allies, including RJD (4) and CPI-ML (2).

The challenge will be to prevent chinks, even though all vowed to stay united following a meeting under the aegis of Hemant on Sunday night.

Congress passed its initial hurdle on Sunday after AICC observers — former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and senior party worker Ajay Shah — lobbied hard with Hemant, also JMM president, to bring everyone on the same page. As JMM hardened its stand last week after Congress named its candidate, AICC rushed the observers to firefight the brewing dissent.