Commotion and some tough talk were heard at the samvaad or dialogue between BJP and Congress candidates for Ranchi Lok Sabha seat together at Celebration Banquet Hall in Karamtoli here on Sunday, organised by Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI).

While BJP candidate Sanjay Seth, as expected, painted a rosy picture of the country and state under his party’s leadership before a 250-member strong audience comprising businessmen and others, Congress candidate Subodh Kant Sahay, on the other hand, lived up to his image of a seasoned politician and spiritedly opposed his opponent’s views.

Sahay also touched a raw nerve when he asked where was the Rs 15 lakh in every bank account promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he launched demonetisation, as some 50 members of the elite audience stood up and started shouting.

Though designed as an interactive meeting, Seth spoke first, highlighting his party’s achievements. Seth said, “Desh ki taqdir aur tasvir badal gayi (the destiny and image of the country has changed).” He said India was now internationally recognised as a great economic and military power and Jharkhand, unlike before, was now a state “free from fear”. “The Congress ruled the country for 55 years and gave the garibi hatao slogan but it failed to eradicate poverty,” Seth alleged.

Sahay thrashed Seth’s opinion, pointing out the state was “full of fear” as a murder was committed (last year) near the chief minister’s residence and no investor had come to Jharkhand in past five years. He also blamed the Raghubar Das state government for ignoring the provisions of Right to Food and Right to Education Acts (introduced by the UPA government) that resulted in “starvation deaths” and “closure of many schools” in the name of merger. “Though created at the same time, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand developed more than Jharkhand, which was ruled by the BJP for most of its tenure,” Sahay alleged, adding the party was now ruling the country in such a way that everyone opposing it is branded as deshdrohi (anti-national).

Both Seth and Sahay sat for a Q&A, fielding questions from the audience. Businessman Deepak Goenka asked Sahay from where the Rs 72,000 a year for 20 per cent of India’s poorest families promised in the proposed NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) of the Congress Lok Sabha poll manifesto would come. Sahay said the money would be arranged by re-allocation of funds meant for different schemes.

Seth, when asked by businessman Rajesh Das what the BJP had done in Jharkhand in its nearly 15-year rule, said, “A new ring road and many buildings such as of the high court have been constructed.”

Social activist P.P. Verma pointed out that provisions of the CNT and PESA Acts and those of the Fifth Schedule (of the Constitution) were being violated in Jharkhand. “The government is considering these seriously and will certainly do something good,” Seth replied to which Sahay disagreed, accusing the state government of having evil designs for trying to amend tenancy Acts.

Both candidates agreed when businessman Anjay Pacheriwal said manifestos should not be forgotten after elections got over but implemented seriously. They also agreed that family members of corrupt politicians should not get party tickets to contest polls.

On whether commotion following Sahay’s Rs-15 lakh question could have been avoided, FJCCI president Deepak Maroo said they had wanted a “fruitful interactive session” and promised a better format before the next elections.