JVM-P’s Ajay Kumar joins Congress

RANCHI: Former JVM(P) MP from Jamshedpur Dr Ajay Kumar joined Congress at a function held at the party headquarters here on Friday vowing to fight the “communal forces” during the coming assembly elections. It’s interesting to note that Kumar joined the Congress at a time when BJP has emerged as the first choice among political defectors in Jharkhand and five MLAs from his own party have switched over to the saffron party.
Addressing a press conference, Kumar said, “I am now formally a member of the Congress party. If the party wants to propose my candidature for the assembly polls, I will contest. If the party decides to utilize my influence in Jamshedpur during campaigning, I am ready to do that as well.” Congress is reportedly mulling over fielding him from one of the two urban assembly seats in Jamshedpur.
Kumar has quite an influence in Jamshedpur where he served as an SP from 1994-1996. During his tenure as an SP, the law and order situation in Jamshedpur was at its worst. Kumar is believed to have played a major role in restoring normalcy and winning back the confidence of people.
The former IPS officer claimed to have joined the party to take on BJP. He, however, declined having struck a deal with the Congress, adding that he met party president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi before deciding to join the party.
Kumar, who defeated Congress’s Banna Gupta and others to become Jamshedpur MP in 2011, showered praises on Congress. “Congress is like a rainbow encompassing people from all sections and faith. It is the only national party that wants development for all,” said Kumar.
This 1986-batch IPS officer is known for switching professions. He was an MBBS doctor before he cracked UPSC exams. Later, he joined the corporate sector only to leave it soon. He later joined JVM (P) and became an MP.
“It’s important to strengthen the Congress for the sake of the country. Congress was the best option to counter the recent political developments,” said Kumar, thanking AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad (also Jharkhand-in-charge), Sonia Gandhi and AICC VP Rahul Gandhi.
He also expressed his gratitude to JVM-P chief and former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi. “I joined Congress because it offers a bigger platform to fight for the country,” he said.
Political circles are abuzz with speculations about Kumar being nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, his home state. “I do not know anything. I have not struck any deal. People strike so many deals in politics that it’s hard to convince them that I have not inked any such pact,” said Kumar.
On a possible alliance with JMM, JVM-P or RJD, Kumar said: “It is for the party to decide.” Hordes of Congress workers accompanied Kumar from Jamshedpur. State Congress chief Sukhdeo Bhagat said Kumar would infuse new energy into the party.