By IANS
Ranchi : Cracks have appeared in the United Progressive Alliance in Jharkhand before the by-election for the Simeria assembly seat scheduled for Feb 4.
Keen on testing the political waters before making a decisive call on its ultimatum to the Madhu Koda government in the state, Congress decided to go for a party candidate instead of putting up a candidate on behalf of the coalition.
While the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) withdrew its official candidate Yogendra Baitha in favour of the Communist Party of India (CPI) nominee Ramchandra Ram, the Congress offered Baitha a Congress party ticket.
Simeria assembly seat fell vacant due to death of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Upendra Nath Das. Das died two months ago after a prolonged illness.
Ramchandra Ram, the CPI-RJD combine cabinet had secured second position in 2005 assembly election.
BJP has fielded son of Das to cash on sympathy votes.
“CPI will win the election with thumping majority. BJP and Congress are trying to win election at strength of money. The voters of Simeria will teach lesson to both BJP and Congress” said Bhuneshwar Mehta, a CPI MP from Hazaribagh.
Mehta shot off a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi requesting her to withdraw the party candidate. However, the Congress party is making all efforts to win the election.
Two union ministers Ajay Maken and Subodh Kant sahay are campaigning for the party candidate in Simeria by-election.
“Congress is dedicated to the development of the state and fight corruption. We will take decisive decision after Simeria by-election. We are not happy with performance of the government and this is the reason we decided to fight Simeria by-election to fulfill the constitutional obligation,” said Ajay Maken, union minister and in charge of Congress party in Jharkhand.
According to sources in RJD, the party chief and union railway Minister Lalu Prasad is unhappy over the developments in the state. Lalu Prasad is expected to campaign for the CPI candidate against the Congress party and BJP candidates.
The Chief Minister Madhu Koda and the ministers of the Koda cabinet prefer not to campaign in favour of Congress or CPI.
“I will keep myself away from the by election. I will play neutral role in the by election” said Koda.
The Congress party gave a 60-day ultimatum to Koda government, which lapsed on Jan 15, but the party is yet to take any decision on withdrwal of support.
RJD chief is upset over the Congress party creating a rebel in Bitha and its plans to bring down the present government.