Congress forms committee for Hatia, factionalism on rise

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI 

State Congress is reported to have formed a five men committee in the anticipation of the Hatia assembly by-election and will forward its recommendations for the candidature if Jharkhand High Court clears the deck.

“Official announcement of the formation of this committee has been kept on hold since the matter is subjudice. It will recommend candidate any time after the court’s verdict,” a party insider said. Leader refused to disclose the names of the members, though, but dropped enough hint about the committee comprising senior most party leaders.

From throwing lavish lunch party to calling old and forgotten party workers on the name of felicitating them claimants for the tickets have swung in backstage negotiation. “These are all off-stage drama. Some of them returned from Delhi after they were not taken seriously by the central Congress which is preoccupied with upcoming assembly election in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab,” a party functionary said.

Sunil Sahay whose candidature is powered and projected by his heavyweight brother; Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, may not expect the committee to make a favourable recommendation. “The privy of being bother of party heavyweight is not going to be the sole criteria of candidature. Seniority and association with the party matter while his political life in the Congress is less than two years,” a senior party leader agitatedly said.

It will provide enough reasons to State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu to glee and giggle who having several brushes with Union Minister to get control over party. Apart from other claimants like former party spokesperson Alko Dubey, Rana Sangram Singh, Congress mahanagar there is Pratibha Pandey, former state president of Women Congress who is seeking fair justice this time. In 2005 election she was given party ticket from Hatia and withdrawn barely 12 days after to accommodate Gopal Sarannath Sahdeo of royal Sahdeo family.

But, Subodh Kant Sahay is not sure about the card that Balmuchu might have kept in his sleeves to stop him in Hatia. Talk in the air that the anti-Sahay camp might convince central high command to strike a deal with the JVM to support in Hatia and secure the support of the JVM for the Rajya Sabha seat. It will be a smart move to push back Sahay and please party’s Rajya Sabha member from Jharkhand Mabel Rebello who is left with few months to complete her term.

“An addition of seat does not make any difference in Jharkhand in the near future. Rajya Sabha seat matters the most for Delhi,” a party leader said.

On face the Congress has repeatedly announced its intent to contest and sought support from the JVM chief Babulal Marandi. And every time Marandi disparagingly rebuked the Congress.

The proposal is not acceptable to the JVM even it appears politically profitable though JVM leaders like Pradeep Yadav would refuse to say anything till the Congress brings such proposal. Congress had promised handsome political and personal return to the JVM to get its support during previous Rajya Sabha election which it convivially forgot.