Jamshedpur: Rajya Sabha MP and former state Congress president Pradip Kumar Balmuchu today cautioned Congress leadership against tying up with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha while claiming that the alliance would result in a ‘total loss’ to the party.
“The party needs to seriously consider the consequences of such an alliance. Contesting the elections under JMM’s leadership may cause huge damage to the party in the ensuing elections. It is undoubtedly going to be a hopeless alliance. I have apprised party leadership about various aspects of such an alliance and requested them to think again,” said Balmuchu.
State Congress and JMM leaders recently decided that the anti-BJP Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) formed between the two parties along with Rashtriya Janata Dal would contest the polls under JMM’s leadership. The seat sharing talks are still on among the alliance leaders.
Balmuchu, speaking to scribes, after a meeting with the East Singhbhum district Congress committee members at Tilak Pustakalaya this evening, further said, “The party activists would be greatly dismayed in Assembly constituencies where the party decides not to field any candidate. In such constituencies, the party would also lose the golden chance to strengthen its foothold and mass support. The vote bank may be increased in such areas on giving tickets to party members.”
The former state Congress president said he did not want to see Congress being reduced to a B team of the grand alliance led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Yesterday Balmuchu had said he would be taking up the issue and raising his demand before Congress high-ups including AICC president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday. He also met governor Dr Syed Ahmad.
He said the leadership of JMM could not be accepted under any given circumstances while expressing his disagreement with the state Congress in-charge BK Hariprasad on the issue of contesting the election along with JMM.
“Congress should contest the election on its own. Party leadership would take a decision on this very soon. Very little time is left as the election schedule has been issued today. The state government has done good work in the last three months,” the Congress leader said.
Asked whether he looked forward to contesting the Assembly polls from Ghatsila constituency, the MP said the decision in this regard would be decided by the party leaders.
Interestingly, district Congress committee leaders extended a warm welcome to Balmuchu at the party headquarters today.
Four days ago, Tilak Pustakalaya was found locked minutes before Balmuchu was supposed to arrive there. Balmuchu’s supporters hinted towards soaring differences between Balmuchu and state Congress president and in-charge as the driving force behind the incident.