Simaria bypoll a prestige issue for congress: Maken

Chatra, Jan 27 (UNI) Asserting that contesting Simaria by-election was a ''prestige issue'' for the Congress Union minister and in-charge of party affairs in Jharkhand Ajay Maken today said their main focus was to bring the state on developmental tracks.

''We are focussed on two issues to check corruption and bring development in the state and we are not going to compromise on these two issues,'' Mr Maken told reoprters here.

Refering to party's support to the UPA backed Madhu Koda government of the state Mr Maken said party sacrificed and extended its support to the Koda-government but the latter failed to work according to the dreams of people.

Speaking about extending party's support to the state government Mr Maken said final decision in this regard would be taken after February 4 by-election to the Simaria Assembly seat.

Criticising the erstwhile NDA regime in the state the Congress Working Committee (CWC) member said the present government also failed to check corruption existing from previous governments.

Union Minister of State for Food Processing Subodhkant Sahay accompanying the CWC member said state would face mid-term polls in next six months.

UNI XC-AM BA RD 1843