Congress Throws Weight Behind Rama Khalko for Ranchi Mayoral Post
In a significant political development in Jharkhand's capital, the Congress party on Monday officially extended its support to former mayor and dedicated party worker Rama Khalko for the coveted mayoral position in the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC). This move comes while their alliance partner, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), has yet to reveal its preferred candidate for the post.
Non-Party Civic Elections with Political Undertones
Notably, the forthcoming civic body elections, scheduled to be conducted across 48 urban local bodies throughout the state, are not formally contested on established party lines. However, political organizations remain actively engaged in the process by extending strategic support to candidates of their choosing for both mayoral and councillor positions.
Under the structure of the RMC, elections will determine 53 ward councillors and the mayor directly, while the deputy mayor's position will be filled through an indirect election process. All successfully elected councillors will subsequently choose the deputy mayor by majority vote.
Khalko Announces Candidature with Confidence
Flanked by members of the Congress Mahangar committee, Rama Khalko formally announced her candidature while addressing the media at her residence. "I will file my nomination tomorrow," she declared confidently.
Tuesday marks the final date for filing nominations for these crucial urban local body elections. Khalko, who made history as Ranchi's first woman mayor, reflected on her previous five-year term, describing it as successful and asserting that residents had appreciated her dedicated efforts toward the city's comprehensive development.
"I sought permission from my party, the Congress, to contest the mayoral post, and the party has graciously given its consent," she stated. Khalko added that she remained optimistic about receiving substantial support from alliance partners JMM and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Appeal for Alliance Support
Addressing the unique nature of these elections, Khalko noted, "Since the elections are not held on conventional party lines, it is not entirely clear whom our alliance partners will ultimately support. However, I earnestly request them and genuinely hope to receive considerable backing from them as well."
While the JMM has maintained silence on this specific issue, indications suggest the RJD is likely to extend its support to Khalko's candidacy. State RJD spokesperson Kailash Yadav commented, "The party is likely to back Khalko in Ranchi, and we expect similar reciprocal support for our candidates in regions where the RJD maintains a stronger organizational presence."
This political maneuvering sets the stage for an intriguing electoral contest in Jharkhand's capital, where personal political capital and alliance dynamics will play crucial roles in determining the next leadership of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation.
