Law Kumar Mishra
Ranchi, May 30
Congress party received a big setback in Jharkhand as its ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has announced to field its candidate for the Rajya Sabha election due next month.
The grand old party, which is an alliance partner in the Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand, was eyeing to get the seat. Till Monday afternoon, the name of senior Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad was figuring for the Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand.
However, the rift between the JMM and Congress started developing a few months ago when the former claimed that it would send its candidate to the Rajya Sabha. The Congress party had contested and claimed that it was its share to get the Rajya Sabha seat as per the alliance understanding.
Hemant Soren had gone to New Delhi two days ago and had a hectic discussion with Congress president Sonia Gandhi regarding the candidature. Sources said he refused to give the seat to Congress. Hemant returned to Ranchi and briefed JMM President Shibu Soren about the development and discussed fielding Mahua Maji.
After getting consent from the senior Soren, the Chief Minister on Monday afternoon shocked the political corridor by announcing the name of writer-turned-politician Mahua Maji as the Rajya Sabha candidate. The development is likely to widen the crack between the allies in Jharkhand.
Mahua Maji was the chairperson of the Jharkhand State Women Commission and she was also the JMM candidate from the Ranchi assembly seat. She lost the election.
