Sonia knows why I was in Ranchi, says Dasmunsi

What was Union Water Resources Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi doing in Ranchi before Shibu Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister on March 2, has been the BJP’s question since. The answer came today from the man himself though the party has kept mum — ‘‘Mrs Sonia Gandhi knew what I was doing there. I was there to form the UPA government at Jharkhand and that was the mandate for me from the party high command.

‘‘However, never did I try to influence the decision of the governor as the BJP is alleging,’’ he said. ‘‘I did not stay at Raj Bhawan nor did I use any government vehicle although I am a Union minister… The Arjun Munda government at that time did not even provide me a constable for security though my friends told me I was on the RSS’ hit list,’’ he said.