Utterly disappointed with the decision of the party high command to reappoint ministers of the previous government led by former CM Hemant Soren in Jharkhand, a group of 12 Congress legislators seem to have taken a rebellious stand and are in a mood for an all-out battle to fight it out with party seniors.
Out of the 12 disgruntled legislators, eight MLAs today took an evening flight to Delhi to register their grievances with senior leaders of the All India Congress Committee and have vowed to stay out of the State –likely in Delhi or Jaipur – till their demands are not met.
The dissidents’ group in the Congress was formed on the day of Cabinet expansion of the Champai Soren government on February 16, when the Congress leadership repeated the same ministers of the previous government in the new one. Congress legislators were hoping that this time there would be a change in ministerial faces and some of them would be given a chance.
But, when this did not happen 12 legislators opened a front against the party leadership and locked themselves in a room at the Ranchi circuit house.
The legislators even refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony, but after efforts of State Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir and JPCC president Rajesh Thakur, they finally attended the oath ceremony at Raj Bhawan. Later, they went to meet Thakur and asked him to convey their reservations before the party's high command.
On February 17, the legislators once again met at a city-based hotel and decided to go to Delhi to meet senior Congress leaders. JMM leader and Minister in the government Basant Soren tried to pacify the MLAs at the hotel, but all his efforts went in vain. Finally, eight MLAs flew to Delhi to meet the party seniors.
MLA Deepika Pandey Singh told media persons that all the MLAs are united and have informed the Congress High Command about their demands. “Some solution will be found in favour of the MLAs. Till the solution to the problem is found, the Congress MLAs will remain in Delhi,” she said. The leader refused to comment on the question of withdrawal of support.
Another legislator Jaimagal Singh said that there is resentment among the MLAs, but it is still difficult to tell for what reasons. He said that whatever problems are there will be discussed with the high command to reach a fruitful conclusion.
Four of the 12 legislators could not go to Delhi on Saturday due to personal reasons. However, they said that they would join others in Delhi on Sunday.
Ends…
Caption: Disgruntled Congress MLAs hold a meeting at a Ranchi hotel before leaving for Delhi to meet AICC leaders.
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