The Congress khands in Jharkhand: The slip is showing

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Aug 4: Every political party has aggrieved members nursing dreams but the internal bickering are usually kept indoors to maintain the image of solidarity. This is a part of political grooming. Some quarters call it ethics. Of course, with growing political parties breeding apparently insignificant regional and sometimes local offshoots in the forms of socio-cultural organizations, the common man no longer remains that common and is able to see through the veils that cover political dissent. The grand alliances and the North India type of alliances featuring the Bua-Bhatija combine did not live to fight another day. The national grand alliance partners too seem a consternated lot and are busy fathoming the Assembly prospects in terms on personal, people, party and may be, state. And the contemplations are in that order, make no mistake.

The Grand Old Party that has a glowing history of big achievers and commanded respect among Indians and foreigners, has seemingly lost its edge on the popularity polling list and by all counts, cannot enter the election arena alone. The party that once spelt might has now been relegated to the position of a tag team player. Under such conditions the Congress, ironically, is washing its dirty linen in public. A case in point is the party�s Jharkhand scenario where free-for-all spates of spat are ruling the political roost.

Dr Ajoy �Gentleman� Kumar had etched his name in folklore by his deeds as the super cop of this district. The way he tamed the bigwigs of the underworld and political world in a suave manner had reestablished the people�s confidence in the khaki brigade. After he opted out of the IPS cadre, his respect did not dwindle. He carried his ethics to the political climes and his sincere efforts emanating from a human heart, a rare commodity in political physiology these days, are spoken of by an overlooked society except during poll times, even today. His joining politics was not taken too kindly by his fans but his good work reassured them that he was that personality who still meant business.  But his stepping on to a sinking boat steered and paddled by some self seekers was a case of the right man in a wrong boat. The Congress boat, beleaguered as it was and is, thanks to infighting with personal ambitions dangled as a carrot before the braying species is wobbling unsteadily.

His honest ways did not go down well with party members who got their voices back after the parliamentary poll debacle. But that was a foregone national debacle but Doc Ajoy was being made the scapegoat while party citadels were falling right, left and centre. At least, there was one win in the Singhbhum cluster.

Dr Ajoy Kumar, beyond all doubts, even political ones, is an honest man and stickler for discipline. During the Mahaganthbandhan days in Jharkhand, there was an explicit pact that the Congress would lead the combine in the LS polls while the JMM would take charge during the Vidhan Sabha gamble.  The Congress state president wants to stick to this unwritten pact but the other leaders steering the boat that they and their ilk insisted on sinking have other motives. The likes of former union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, former RS MP and Ghatshila MLA Dr Pradip Balmuchu are fanning the unholy flames of party desiccation and former minister Banna Gupta evaluating his own chances of baking his loaf in the shameless mayhem.

While Subodh Kant Sahay too wants to get Dr Ajoy Kumar out of the way by hitting the state�s sentimental cord of demanding a person of the soil to be the party�s state chief, he and his coteries are aiming  for a sky that is too high as Dr Kumar�s supporters are many within and outside the party folds. People may have voted against the Congress but the respect for this man remains unscathed.

Dr Pradip Kumar Balmuchu held high expectations but his sudden swivel in the arc of priorities has added a dubious tail to his motives. He is hell bent on fighting from the Ghatshila Assembly seat and has threatened that if he is not given a party ticket, he would either go it alone or seek the shade of some other political banyan tree. So much for Congress ethics or ethos or whatever.

Closer home, all eyes are fixed on the Congress candidate for the Jamshedpur West Assembly seat. Banna Gupta has represented his party from the constituency after getting off the Samajwadi Party bicycle and grabbing the Congress hand. And yes, he did win and went on to become a Jharkhand minister until weather beaten politician Saryu Roy ensured that the Lotus bloomed thus nipping Banna Gupta�s greater aspirations (?) in the bud.

But Banna is not immediately worried about his second round of political arm wrestling with BJP�s candidate Saryu Roy. His main worry at the moment is will he be beaten to the party ticket race by his party president Dr Ajoy Kumar? Both, it may be noted have shown great inclination towards this seat. Although the coin is yet to be flipped, activities in the form of preparation for the ensuing Rajya Sabha polls has already commenced. Both, Dr Kumar and Banna Gupta are not spilling the beans themselves but are sending out feelers through their respective supporters.

Stranger things have been known to happen under the political sky but this Congress war within its tent may be fun to watch but nonetheless forms a sorry picture for the Grand Old Party that is presently swimming in murky waters.