Ranchi:
How do you become a minister? You can earn it through political experience - or you can do whatever it takes, from lobbying to 'looting and snatching', as a newly-appointed minister in Jharkhand has been caught on camera confessing.
Yogendra Sahu, whose Congress party is partnering with the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has admitted in public that he was not in the original list of ministers in the new cabinet, but had to pull out all the stops to squeeze himself in.
"I was in Delhi for 15 days. My name wasn't on the list of ministers. I had to lobby hard with leaders ranging from Ahmed Patel to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. I cannot say in detail what I did. In politics, one has to do everything, from fixing shoes to Chandi paath (religious chants)," Mr Sahu was caught on camera bragging to party workers at an event in Ranchi on Sunday.
Now the Jharkhand Agriculture Minister, Mr Sahu made it clear he was still not satisfied as he said, "I am the son of a farmer, that's why I have been made agriculture minister. But I want more ministries. I am not one to beg - I know how to loot and snatch."
This is not the first time Mr Sahu has been caught off guard. In 2010, he was caught on camera expressing his willingness to accept bribe for his vote in the Rajya Sabha polls.
This is one of at least 11 cases that Mr Sahu allegedly faces, which is the reason behind the Congress's reluctance to make him a minister.
The Congress, which has five ministries in its share, took 40 days to finalise names. The party finally gave in to Mr Sahu, despite being slammed over tainted ministers, with an eye on his significant influence in the state's Hazaribagh constituency.
JMM leader Hemant Soren took oath in July to become Jharkhand's ninth Chief Minister, after striking up an alliance with the Congress ahead of next year's elections.
Yogendra Sahu, whose Congress party is partnering with the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has admitted in public that he was not in the original list of ministers in the new cabinet, but had to pull out all the stops to squeeze himself in.
"I was in Delhi for 15 days. My name wasn't on the list of ministers. I had to lobby hard with leaders ranging from Ahmed Patel to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. I cannot say in detail what I did. In politics, one has to do everything, from fixing shoes to Chandi paath (religious chants)," Mr Sahu was caught on camera bragging to party workers at an event in Ranchi on Sunday.
Now the Jharkhand Agriculture Minister, Mr Sahu made it clear he was still not satisfied as he said, "I am the son of a farmer, that's why I have been made agriculture minister. But I want more ministries. I am not one to beg - I know how to loot and snatch."
This is not the first time Mr Sahu has been caught off guard. In 2010, he was caught on camera expressing his willingness to accept bribe for his vote in the Rajya Sabha polls.
This is one of at least 11 cases that Mr Sahu allegedly faces, which is the reason behind the Congress's reluctance to make him a minister.
The Congress, which has five ministries in its share, took 40 days to finalise names. The party finally gave in to Mr Sahu, despite being slammed over tainted ministers, with an eye on his significant influence in the state's Hazaribagh constituency.
JMM leader Hemant Soren took oath in July to become Jharkhand's ninth Chief Minister, after striking up an alliance with the Congress ahead of next year's elections.
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