With one resignation, does JMM fire a salvo?

Ranchi: As Dr Sarfaraz Ahmad, the legislator from Gandey, Giridih resigned from the legislative assembly, and news spread out on the first day of 2024, it indicated for the time to come in the politics of Jharkhand.

Chief minister Hemant Soren, who had got seven notices from the Enforcement Directorate office to appear before it, played his cards before taking any final calls on the appearance before ED on alleged money-laundering charges.

The tribal chief minister seems to be giving a message to ED and its political opposition Bharatiya Janata Party that he is ready for every situation.

But let’s first understand the resignation.

How important is senior leader Sarfaraz Ahmad’s resignation

Sarfaraz Ahmad joined active politics in 1977 and not only was he once president of Bihar congress during the time of united Bihar, but also a Member of Parliament (MP) from Giridih and three times MLA.

He was very close to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and his assassination made him a political orphan. There was a time when he had to fight for a ticket in Congress. He eventually left the grand old party. He became a rebel but won the election. He later returned to his party. But, in 2019, he joined JMM and became a legislator again. After the resignation, political observers believe that he will be sent to Rajya Sabha by JMM and Congress together since Diraj Sahu, Congress’s Rajya Sabha member’s term is getting over in March this year. The resignation of a leader, who spent almost five decades in Jharkhand’s politics would come in a huff.

Dr Ahmad told eNewsroom, “I am not going to fight the Lok Sabha election, but if the party will send me to Rajya Sabha, I will surely serve there.”

He also issued a press statement on his resignation and mentioned, “I have resigned to strengthen the party, the government and the hands of Hemant Soren.”

After this political development, the more simplistic way is to believe that Hemant Soren will resign and his wife will be at the helm of affairs in the state.

This is what BJP leaders, who have always expressed more excitement every time some development with the ruling government and party takes place, did this time as well. 

Soren puts on a brave face

“Since 2020, Jharkhand has been disturbed and it was predicted that the Hemant Soren government will not last this year and that year. The government has completed four years, and we have grown strength to strength,” claimed JMM MLA Sudivya Sonu to eNewsroom.

Significantly, when the news of Sarfaraz Ahmad was flashed on the first day of 2024, Soren was attending a function in Saraikela-Kharsawan. There he claimed that he would not only complete his term but return to power as well.

The party has called its ministers and MLAs for a meeting on January 3 at the chief minister’s house.

BJP’s claim

Soon after the resignation of Sarfaraz Ahmad, Godda MP and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey tweeted that the New Year would not be good for the Soren family as soon Hemant Soren resigned and his wife Kalpana will be made the CM.

Like Dubey, BJP state president, Babulal Marandi also claimed that Hemant Soren wants to make his wife as chief minister of Jharkhand.

Meanwhile, December 31, 2023, was the deadline to respond to the seventh and final notice of ED, to appear before it. But Soren skipped it.

But what if, Hemant Soren, neither resigns nor gets arrested by the ED? It happened on many occasions when rumours were strong that CM Soren’s government would not last. 

Another perspective

Gandey constituency, a more secure seat for the INDIA alliance can help both JMM and Congress to adjust their candidates here. There is a senior Congress leader, who is not happy with the alliance government as he has been ignored for a long. His candidature from Gandey not only can solve the issue of assembly seat adjustment but also give strength to INDIA in one of the most high-profile Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand also.