Office-of-profit cloud over Jharkhand RS candidate

RANCHI: As Rajya Sabha elections draw near, parties in Jharkhand have swung into action to muster support for their respective candidates. Elections to the two RS seats will be held on June 17, for which three candidates — Dheeraj Sahu (Congress), K D Singh (JMM-AJSU combine) and Ajay Maroo (BJP) —have filed nominations.

However, what has unnerved all is that none of them are sure of getting the required support of 28 MLAs. The state assembly has a strength of 81.

The JMM-AJSU combine has the support of 25, which include two Independents —Chamra Linda and Videsh Singh — and desperately needs support of three more MLAs. JMM leader Hemant Soren and AJSU chief Sudesh Mahato are working hard to win support of other MLAs to ensure victory of their candidate K D Singh, a Chandigarh-based businessman and chairman of Alchemist Group.

What has added to Mr Singh's woes is the controversy over his alleged holding of office-of-profit. Mr Singh is the chairman of National Meat and Poultry Processing Board (NMPPB), under the Union ministry of food processing, which according to few, falls under office-of-profit category. If the charges are found to be true, he may be disqualified from election to the Upper House.