Tweet
BJP strategy keeps JVM in mind
In the uncertain number game for the elections of two Rajya Sabha seats; the BJP formed a two-pronged strategy for voting, scheduled on Wednesday.
Sources in the party confided that BJP MLAs will cast their votes for the party nominee SS Ahluwalia in the first half of the polling. “But the party will keep four votes in hand in case we need to change the strategy at the last moment. And all this depends upon the move of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) which has not made its stand clear either to support the Congress or to stick to its earlier stand to abstain from voting,” a senior party office bearer said.
Late on Wednesday evening central BJP leaders, national general secretary Ananth Kumar and state BJP in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan arrived at Ranchi to discuss poll strategy. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Chief Minister Arjun Munda tried to enlist support for BJP nominee SS Ahluwalia from recalcitrant AJSU Party and the fence-sitters by urging them to vote according to conscience.
Appearing worried and confused over the shrewd move of the JVM, BJP sources said that the success and failure of the strategy depended on JVM chief Babulal Marandi’s move.
Burdened to cobble requisite numbers for Ahluwalia; the BJP is under pressure from the JMM ally which asked the BJP to support its candidate, Sanjeev Kumar. The party has even issued veiled threat to withdraw support from the coalition government in case the JMM nominee faces poll discomfiture.
“If 11 JVM MLAs abstain from voting then we need 23 votes each and it will be easy for us to win both seats. In case the JVM changes its mind and support Congress’ Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu; then we will have to think for other option, since in that case one needs 27 votes,” he said. The senior leader, though, refused to reveal whether the party was thinking to transfer remaining votes to the JMM nominee in case the latter shifts its stand. The BJP, with 18 MLAs, got support from two of JD(U) MLAs. But it needs more to win. Here lies the problem since it has not been able to secure support from AJSU, which has five MLAs. A day ago, Ahluwalia and State BJP chief Dineshnanda Goswami had met AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto.
In the uncertain number game for the elections of two Rajya Sabha seats; the BJP formed a two-pronged strategy for voting, scheduled on Wednesday.
Sources in the party confided that BJP MLAs will cast their votes for the party nominee SS Ahluwalia in the first half of the polling. “But the party will keep four votes in hand in case we need to change the strategy at the last moment. And all this depends upon the move of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) which has not made its stand clear either to support the Congress or to stick to its earlier stand to abstain from voting,” a senior party office bearer said.
Late on Wednesday evening central BJP leaders, national general secretary Ananth Kumar and state BJP in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan arrived at Ranchi to discuss poll strategy. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Chief Minister Arjun Munda tried to enlist support for BJP nominee SS Ahluwalia from recalcitrant AJSU Party and the fence-sitters by urging them to vote according to conscience.
Appearing worried and confused over the shrewd move of the JVM, BJP sources said that the success and failure of the strategy depended on JVM chief Babulal Marandi’s move.
Burdened to cobble requisite numbers for Ahluwalia; the BJP is under pressure from the JMM ally which asked the BJP to support its candidate, Sanjeev Kumar. The party has even issued veiled threat to withdraw support from the coalition government in case the JMM nominee faces poll discomfiture.
“If 11 JVM MLAs abstain from voting then we need 23 votes each and it will be easy for us to win both seats. In case the JVM changes its mind and support Congress’ Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu; then we will have to think for other option, since in that case one needs 27 votes,” he said. The senior leader, though, refused to reveal whether the party was thinking to transfer remaining votes to the JMM nominee in case the latter shifts its stand. The BJP, with 18 MLAs, got support from two of JD(U) MLAs. But it needs more to win. Here lies the problem since it has not been able to secure support from AJSU, which has five MLAs. A day ago, Ahluwalia and State BJP chief Dineshnanda Goswami had met AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto.
