‘Scholars and CMs never face defeat in battle’

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Thursday, December 11, 2008

"So far I have heard that scholars and Chief Ministers never face defeat in the battle whether it is academic or electoral…it will come true in the case of Shibu Soren also," deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi beamed hope before the commencement of the meeting of the State UPA scheduled to be held at his residence. The meeting will make a formal announcement of the candidature of Soren as the UPA candidate for the by-election of Tamar.

Marandi in his mind must have had the example of another Marandi (Babulal Marandi) who fought and won the Ramgarh Assembly election as the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Sounds good. But there are certain elements in the Tamar by-election –the UPA showed an apparent division in its fold as two of the Ministers of the State Cabinet—Ainosh Ekka and Bandhu Tirkey–have fielded their own candidates.

Gopal Krishna Patar known as Raja Peter filed his nomination on Wednesday as the official candidate of Jharkhand Party (Ainosh group) and as an independent too along with Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch of Tirkey which is a mood to put up Kanchan Munda from Tamar.

Not only Marandi but the leaders of the State Congress are terming this logic and hope Tamar will come on a platter for them as no Chief Minister has faced electoral discomfiture so far—however examples are there to fly on the face.

Till the report was filed the UPA meeting was going on, but sources who are scheduled to be present in the meeting informed that UPA leaders were discussing over how to create a 'safe electoral passage' for Soren if he finally agreed to contest from Tamar.

Political analysts believe that Tamar would be the testing ground of the popularity and political acumen of Soren with certain reservation in their mind—Tamar will not come on the platter. It is up to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Soren to prove the political punsters wrong.

"There is no confusion over his (Soren) candidature…he will fight and win", said Marandi. Even Soren also conceded that he was ready to contest. While interacting with selected media group, on Wednesday, at the Governor's House Soren said: "I can file my nomination any day." There are only two days left for filing the nomination.

Meanwhile the UPA allies have exerted pressure upon Ekka to withdraw Raja Peter. Not the UPA leaders alone even Soren is learnt to have asked Ekka to withdraw Peter from the electoral fray. Sources close to Ekka confided about an in-camera meting of Soren with Ekka on Wednesday afternoon. The JD (U) will hold an impressive procession to mark the nomination of its official candidate Vasundhara Munda.

The chief whip of JD (U) in Bihar State Assembly Shravan Kumar and in-charge of the election held a high level meeting on Wednesday along with party MLAs officials in the State capital said: "The stalwart party MLAs including Brishin Patel, Hari Saha and Sahid Ali Khan will take part in the nomination." How safe it is for the party to field a novice (Basundhara) against a satrap like Soren, he replied "Only she is new in politics but every thing is tested—our workers, this constituency and people who will decide the matter. Certainly public sentiments are in our favour."