Congress plans parallel show over Panem during session

Vijay Deo Jha

Ranchi

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) chief Babulal Marandi has grand plans for the Winter Session of Assembly. Coming soon, is a solo show of the Panem drama. But hoots, and not whistles, are likely to greet his ‘first day-first show’ as the coalition allies in the galleries close ranks against him. Five days’ winter session will commence on Friday. 

All eyes are rivet on the Congress whether the party will watch him as audience with plaudits or subtly encourage coalition’s boo-boo brigades. But the Congress has clarified that it will run a parallel show over Panem in the assembly and not going to let Marandi steal the show.

“The Congress party is concerned the way the Panem Coal Mines Limited has fooled people. In fact Marandiji has tried to grab this movement which was started by the Congress. We are not the B party of the JVM. The JVM, in fact, is pretending to speak about the public cause,” state Congress in-charge and MP Sakil Ahmed told The Pioneer.

But the Congress has developed dangerous faultline within the party over Panem issue. Party leader Stephen Marandi has courted ire and a commission of inquiry has just been instituted upon him for allegedly inviting Marandi to join his movement. But Stephen in a clarification given to central party leaders has explained that he had never invited Marandi. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Asha Sinha is scheduled to visit Ranchi on Friday to report whether Stephen is guilty on this count and public spat between Stephen and group supporting state party president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu.

Congress and JVM brick bating each other, but the BJP led JMM, AJSU and JD (U) ruling allies seem to have prepared defense line to counter Opposition at least on Panem.

“If the Opposition has plans to stall assembly session we know how to answer them. The very motive behind this movement, political or personal, is under question. It is an attempt to create trouble and confusion in the mind of people,” Land and Revenue Minister Mathura Mahato said.

But Panem is not the single knife that the Opposition is sharpening against the government. There are Nagari controversy, displacement issue and many others that Opposition can use to surround the government. The BJP legislative body meeting is scheduled on December 3. But the ruling allies are yet to hold a joint meeting to chalk out floor strategy.  

“I can tell you about the preparation of my departments. But I am not aware of larger strategy to face the Opposition,” Tourism, Child and Women Development Department Minister Vimla Pradhan said.

The ruling alliance is more interested in keeping the session short and simple to get odds numbers of bills passed amid rancor.