Bandhu Tirkey’s induction buzz keeps Congress MLAs on tenterhooks

RANCHI: Congress MLAs, lobbying for ministerial posts, are on the edge as the party is planning to induct JVM-P MLA Bandhu Tirkey. Bandhu’s entry would mean more competition for the MLAs for securing their berth in the cabinet. With JVM-P president and Dhanwar MLA Babulal Marandi dropping enough hints that he will merge his party with BJP, sources in the state Congress unit on Monday said talks with Bandhu are underway to facilitate his entry.
With the cabinet expansion likey to take place soon, Congress MLAs have their fingers crossed. One of the MLAs said, “I will not agree to a ministerial berth for a turncoat. Only those who fought the election on a Congress ticket have the right to become ministers...”
After unseating BJP, the JMM-Congress-RJD mahagathbandhan formed a government, which is awaiting a cabinet expansion. After securing two ministerial berths in the 12-member cabinet, Congress is vying for three more portfolios, while one went to RJD.
While Marandi continues to dub reports about a merger as speculation, recent developments have showed that there is a real possibility of him joining BJP sooner or later. During his visit to Dhanwar a few days ago, he reportedly defended CAA and NRC. Marandi left his two other MLAs — Bandhu Tirkey (Mandar) and Pradeep Yadav (Poriyahat) — out of the newly constituted executive committee of the party. Also on Saturday, Marandi slapped a show-cause notice on Bandhu, accusing him of anti-party activities by canvassing for Congress candidate in Hatia (Ranchi) during the assembly polls.
On Monday, several state Congress functionaries told TOI that these these are hints that Marandi is planning to join the saffron party more than a decade after leaving the party. One of the co-working presidents of Congress, who is keeping a close eye on the developments, said, “While we will welcome both Bandhu and Pradeep into the party, talks are on only with the former. Bandhu is in touch with the party high command in Delhi and a few rounds of positive talks have taken place.”
Alamgir Alam, Congress’s Pakur MLA-cum-minister in the Hemant’s government, is said to be negotiating with Bandhu. Talking to TOI, he neither confirmed nor denied the devlopments except stating that all those who want to join the party without any precondition are always welcome.