Ranchi, May 29 (IANS). There is intense political activity in the state regarding the elections to be held on June 18 for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand. On this issue, Congress leaders had an important meeting with Chief Minister Hemant Soren at his residence for about three hours on Friday. During this, the strategy to ensure the victory of the alliance candidates on both the seats was discussed, but at present no final consensus could be reached on seat sharing and names of the candidates.
In the meeting held at the Chief Minister’s residence, Congress’s Jharkhand in-charge K. Raju, co-in-charge Dr. Sirivela Prasad, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramark and State Congress President Keshav Mahato Kamlesh were present. It is being told that Congress leaders gave the message of Congress leadership to Chief Minister Hemant Soren that Congress should get one seat in Rajya Sabha under the coalition principle.
JMM has not yet clarified its stand on this. Many big leaders of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha have favored fielding their party’s candidates on both the Rajya Sabha seats. However, churning over the names of candidates is going on in both the Congress and JMM parties. From JMM’s side, apart from CM Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren, his sister Anjani Soren, the names of former JMM MLA Kunal Shadangi and former minister Mithilesh Thakur are being discussed.
Even within the Congress, lobbying for potential contenders for candidature has intensified. According to sources, a consensus can be reached in the party on any one name of former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, former State President Rajesh Thakur, current State President Keshav Mahato Kamlesh, former Minister Banna Gupta, Furkan Ansari, Pradeep Balmuchhu and Dheeraj Sahu.
Interestingly, former working president Shahzada Anwar, who was the Congress candidate in the 2020 elections and faced defeat, has once again written a letter to National President Mallikarjun Kharge presenting his claim. Congress in-charge K. Raju said that this time the party will not field any outsider in the Rajya Sabha elections. The candidate must be a local leader associated with Jharkhand, active at the grassroots level and having a strong hold in the organization.
–IANS
SNC/DKP
