Cong bigwigs give Munda show a miss

‘‘Yahan ab kya bacha hai (Now what is left here),’’ asked a Congress worker, hanging around the deserted party office. ‘‘Sab gur gobar kar, yeh sab Dilli challe gaye (After turning jaggery into dung, they have gone to Delhi),’’ added two others. But state unit president Sushila Kerketta is optimistic. ‘‘Even now we can gain support of Independent MLAs. There is no doubt about it,’’ said Kerketta. In any case, Razi is expected to return to Ranchi before Munda undergoes the trial of strength.

And in the absence of Soren and these Congressmen, the second-rung leaders along with their RJD and JMM counterparts — led by Independent MLA Stephen Marandi, JMM legislature party leader Sudhir Mahato and RJD’s legislature party leader Girinath Singh — plan to launch an attack on Munda charging him with weaning away their ‘‘allies’’.

Most of them who had alleged that two of the Independents, Harinarayan Rai and Enos Ekka, were kidnapped, now claim their rivals had won them over fraudulently. ‘‘We will tell the people that NDA had won just 36 seats. But it had taken over the reins by weaning away these MLAs by dubious means. They were taken to Jaipur by a chartered flight. Where did the money come from? We will demand a CBI probe,’’ said Mahato.

With the support of the five Independents Munda is sure to win the trust vote. In addition, NDA is counting on NCP MLA Kamlesh Kumar Singh. Even if Singh, who is in a hospital, does not take oath tomorrow, his absence will benefit the combine.

In the 81-member House, with Singh’s absence, UPA’s strength will reduce to 39 while NDA’s remains 41. This means Munda’s victory is almost certain.