Subodh Sahay did it for his brothers

Delhi as well as Ranchi’s power portals have long been buzzing with the story of Congress Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay’s love for his brothers. His denial is not so convincing a political plea.

At the beginning of the Coalgate controversy, Sahay had denied that either he or his brother had any connection with SKS Ispat & Power Ltd, which was granted coal blocks following his recommendation to the Prime Minister. But a flood of proof forced Sahay to accept that Sudhir Kumar, his younger brother, was honorary director.

“Many more SKS companies will surface in the coming days, which Sahay promoted and established to favour his family and brothers. He has a shrewd political and business sense. He has brought much disgrace to the party,” said senior Congress leader Alok Dubey.

Securing a ticket for his brother Sunil for the recently-held Hatia Assembly by-election remained a prestige point. He had pulled out all the stops despite open protest by the party’s old guards, who termed him yet another political opportunist to sacrifice the Congress’ larger interest at the alter of promoting his family.

Officially, Sunil was a Congress candidate; practically, it was a Minister contesting. Sunil was a just poster boy smiling from under the shadow of his heavyweight brother.

Unfortunately, the Sahays ended up flapping their wings hopelessly in a wind that did not obey their commands and lost the deposit. Sunil was left to carp and cry over the defeat — more than his party.

“Let him mourn the defeat. And please don’t say that the Congress got defeated. It was the Sahay family that was fighting election,” a senior Congress leader had said at the time. Sunil is still struggling to rise in politics as representative of his MP brother.

Subodh Kant Sahay was accused of keeping the high command in the dark just to promote his rookie brother.

Having a large family of six brothers — Sahay has three younger brothers Sudhir, Sunil and Tarun — the Minister has done his best to promote them politically and financially.

Sahay had frantically lobbied for Sudhir too, as party nominee for the Rajya Sabha election. But Dhiraj Sahu was just much better.

When it comes to tilting the scales in favour of his siblings, all it takes is a little tap of senior Sahay’s finger. One of his relatives who did not wish to be named refused to comment but advises going through MK Dhar’s ‘India’s Intelligence Unveiled’.

“This book speaks about how Sahay misused his position as Union Home Minister (State) to promote personal interest. Family is often a key arbiter in his scheme of politics,” he said.

Sahay, as Minister during the regime of Prime Minister Chandrasekhar, had faced the Opposition’s accusation for awarding contracts and tenders to front companies where his brothers had stakes.

“It is purely an attempt to establish patent; heirloom politics at its best and worst. Here, succession trend exhibits a flat model of the business family,” said former veteran Congress leader Pratibha Pandey.

Sudhir may not be a keener student of politics but Sahay has ensured a good place for him. He is part of the Congress delegation from Palamau. When Sahay was part of the Janta Dal, he had hijacked Janta Mazdoor Sangh, an RSS-supported trade union body active in Heavy Engineering Corporation, Ranchi. He became a patron of the trade body and appointed Sudhir as its head.

Promoting family might help, but not always — it is a sword that can cut both ways. Sahay seems to have learnt this fact the hard way.