Ahmed’s media talk a gentle snub for disgruntled leaders

Ahmed’s media talk a gentle snub for disgruntled leaders

VIJAY DEO JHA

Ranchi; May 29: When Governor Syed Ahmed, a week back, planned to meet state media he decided to send a veiled message to his critics in the Congress through the press conference that he holds control over administration and governance and has center’s baking too.

Sources in the state Congress admitted that Ahmed’s yesterday press conference was a kind of snub for his bashers in the state party unit who have been lobbying for his removal from Jharkhand and those who accused his for delivering a dud during four months of President’s rule.

“There is no coordination between Governor and two of his advisors…little development have taken place. In such a condition the Congress will face disadvantages during elections because we have nothing to showcase as achievements. The press conference is an elaborate reply for us,” a senior state Congress leader accepted.

 

Ahmed took charge of governance after imposition of President’s rule in January 18, this year following the fall of the Arjun Munda led coalition government.

Addressing the media for around 90 minutes at state’s Suchana Bhawan, Ahmed speaking in chaste Urdu mixed with Hindi did not give even a slight hint of differences cropping up in the last two months.

But Ahmed’s opening statement was sufficient to explain as to what he wanted to convey to the flock clamouring against him in Delhi Darbar.

“Delhi ne mujhe do behtar advisor diye hain jo umda kaam kar rahe hain aur agar niyat sahi hogi niti bhi sahi hi hogi, (Delhi has given me two able advisors who are working fine and if intention is right it will reflect on policy too.)” Ahmed was accompanied by his advisors, Madhukar Gupta and K. Vijaykumar, as well as senior officials of different departments.

Those in the Congress who regularly snubbed him indirectly over claimed developments as a mere paper truism, his back office distributed a thick document of achievements.

Ironically, when opposition lambasted Ahmed and his press conference as ‘a mere recital of script prepared by the Congress’ none from the state Congress came to defend or praise him.

State Congress leaders have been complaining that they are not heard by the Governor and his advisors in the matter of governance hence their appointments are not going to help the party politically in the electoral politics.

On May 19, during party workers meeting in Ranchi, scores of party leaders had requested Union Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh, to convey their demand to the party high command for immediate intervention. The list of complainant is swelling. Ranchi MP and Congress heavyweight Subodh Kant Sahay, former PCC chief and Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu, CLP leader Rajendra Singh and odd number of party MLAs those who have catalogues of complaints against him.

“State is a huge subject it should be run politically and administratively which they should know. Former Jharkhand Governor K. Sankaranarayanan had an understanding of this,” Sahay told The Telegraph.

Ahmed is no more a ‘blue eye boy’ of the Congress and even Sahay seems to have distanced himself from Ahmed. Raj Bhawan insiders confided that neither Governor nor his advisors are willing to bend beyond a point to accommodate personal and political wishes of state Congress leaders including in the matter of transfer- posting of officials as well as appointments.

A fortnight back when a state Congress leader paid a courtesy visit to Governor, Ahmed lightly asked the leader had he any wish list for transfer and posting.

Ahmed, who goes by every news reports as he told the media, must have gone through those unpleasant remarks made by some of the Congress leaders against governance during President’s rule in Jharkhand. Ahmed ended his press conference with a polite reminder. “I may commit mistakes during my works. Let me know about it,” he sounded suing for peace, at last.