Long time ‘associate’ of the ruling BJP-led NDA in the State and Jannathpur MLA of Jai Bharat Samanta Party Geeta Koda on Thursday shifted her loyalty to the Congress which is in the process of becoming pivot of the Opposition alliance nationally.
The two-time MLA from the constituency joined the national party after a brief meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. Party’s Jharkhand in-charge RPN Singh, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajoy Kumar and some other leaders were present on the occasion.
Talking briefly the wife of former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Madhu Koda said, “The step is as per the aspirations of the people of my constituency and in the larger interest of Jharkhand.â€
Sources in the Congress party suggested that her induction would help the party during the Lok Sabha polls. “Though no assurance has been made but she can be a good candidate from Chaibasa for the Lok Sabha election. Several other big names are about to join the party in days to come†said a PCC office bearer.
Though heading a single member party in the Assembly, Geeta Koda has backed the BJP ruled Government on several occasions inside the House and also during the Rajya Sabha votings, often decided by wafer thin margins in the State. In another development Nirsa MLA belonging to Marxists-Coordination Arup Chatterjee also called on the Congress national president fueling speculations further.
At the same time chief of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Babulal Marandi also had a date with Rahul Gandhi and said to have discussed coalition matters with him. “Shape of the coalition combining the Congress, JMM, JVM, RJD and the Left together has almost taken a shape in Jharkhand. This is about to be announced after the festivals are over. The meeting is in that line in which some of the fine tunings came for discussion,†said a JVM leader.
