Four candidates in fray for Rajya Sabha election in State

Four candidates in fray for Rajya Sabha election in State

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi RANCHI Sunday, March 16, 2008 The Pioneer

The inevitable seems to have happened in the nominations for the Rajya Sabha biennial poll in Jharkhand. Money is learnt to have played its own role in it. Little known but affluent politicians from outside filing their nominations for the same lend ample testimony to such speculations.However, confusion remained worse confounded in the UPA camp here on the last date of filing of nomination by two more candidates claiming themselves to have the support of the UPA legislators. The Supreme Court lawyer and the former Congress Rajya Sabha member from Jharkhand RK Anand and and a former Janta Party MP from Delhi, Kishor Lal filed their nominations on Saturday reportedly with proposers belonging to UPA in the State.With this the number of candidates for the two seats, for which the biennial poll for the Rajya Sabha would be held on March 26, rose to four. Parimal Nathwani and Jai Prakash Singh filed their nominations on Friday as BJP and Independent candidates. The name of Nathwani is reported to have been proposed by eleven MLAs belonging to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and one to BJP.The UPA camp ,therefore, found itself in a sticky situation as all the three candidates , RK .Anand, Kishor Lal and Parimal Nathwani had the names of the MLAs as their proposers on their nomination papers leading to the apprehension that their nominations could be rejected if the names of proposers appear in favour of more than two candidates.What seems to be more perplex is the fact that though Rashtriya Janta Dal, JMM and the Independents belonging to the UPA camp here have made their choices known ,the Congress is still keeping fingers crossed as it has neither come out in favour of any of the abovementioned candidates nor has it revealed its future strategy in this connection. The last minute cancellation of the visit of the Union Minister of State for Urban Development and the AICC incharge of Jharkhand, Ajay Maken, on Saturday is attributed to this very fact .According to reports while Anand's nominations papers had the signature of seven RJD and three JMM MLAs as well as those of one Minister ,Kishor Lal's name has been proposed by JMM MLAs and a Cabinet Minister. Nathwani, who filed his nomination on Saturday, was proposed by 11 JMM and one BJP MLA. As per rules one MLA may propose the names of not more than two candidates since there are two seats for which poll is being held.

UPA MPs to knock PM's door

Vijay Deo Jha/ Vishakha Parashar Thursday, February 28, 2008 The Pioneer

RanchiPeeved at the neglect of Jharkhand by Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in the last Railway Budget of the UPA Government, the UPA MPs of the State have decided to knock the doors of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. However, political differences among the MPs are stopping them to forge an alliance to jointly raise the issue which will be raised on March 10, when the Parliament would debate the Rail Budget. Besides the UPA MPs are scheduled to meet the Prime Minister after the General Budget is tabled on February 29.Union Minister of State for Food Processing Subodh Kant Sahai, said a delegation of MPs of UPA would meet the Prime Minister apprising him of the long pending demands and sentiments of the people of Jharkhand. Talking to The Pioneer, both Sahai and another Congress MP Chandrasekhar Dubey declined to join hands with NDA to forge an alliance to stand united during the debate. What comes out of the meeting with PM and debate in the Parliament is a matter of speculation, but the whole exercise has exposed the sharp division among the MPs of Jharkhand, even on the issues of common interests. Their political ideology and personal difference have come in the way of uniting them unlike their counterparts from Gujarat and West Bengal, who boycotted the Budget Session for alleged negligence of their respective States. The MPs of Gujarat have also decided to grill Lalu unitedly in the coming days.Even calling Budget 'people-friendly' and 'historic', the MPs of UPA now admit that the State did not get its due share and its long standing demands of long route trains. According to the sources, Hemlal Murmu, Furkan Ansari and Rameswar Oraon held a close door meeting just after the Budget to form a common strategy to raise the issue of negligence of their constituencies in the Rail Budget. JMM MP Hemlal Murmu, who termed the Budget as a case of classic negligence of Jharkhand and a 'home' budget of Bihar, has already announced to speak his mind during the debate. He is expected to raise the issue of freight corridor between Ranchi-Paradeep via Tatanagar.Yet, the said move of the UPA to exclude NDA to form a common has not dampened the spirit of the senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Devdas Apte, who is busy meeting State leaders to argue the case of Jharkhand. The UPA fears that it could provide an extra mileage to the BJP and they see this as a move of the party to snatch leadership and to project itself as the only party that could bring development in the State. Ajay Maru, the Rajya Sabha member, said that the party did not require the support the UPA to seek a fair deal for the State. But, he would welcome if MPs from Jharkhand dare to speak against their own Government. But, Babulal Marandi, has a different view. He termed the meeting with the PM and debating in the Parliament as a face saving exercise. Rather, he prefers to go to the public instead approach Railway Minister and the PM with a begging bowl that brings nothing Alleging Lalu Prasad for his anti-Jharkhand mindset, he said, it was a big irony to ask anything from the UPA leaders for development. Instead he would prefer to go to the people's court.

Jharkhand reminds Lalu of his past promises

Vijay Deo Jha RANCHI Tuesday, February 26, 2008 The Pioneer

People have set a probing eye on the new Rail Budget 2008-09, to be placed on Tuesday before the Parliament by Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. People and leaders cutting across party lines are eagerly waiting for what comes out for the State in the new Rail Budget, while wondering when will his last promises be fulfiled.However, the Minister has christened the Rail Budget as a basket of comfort and indicated that 26 new projects could be announced in the Budget. But people here are suspicious whether Jharkhand would be included in this or not. This suspicion is backed by a strong reason as the State got a paltry share in terms of new rail lines, infrastructural development and new trains. People are still waiting for the words of Lalu to come true which he said during the rally of the RJD, assuring a fair deal for Jharkhand in the upcoming Rail Budget.The new Budget would decide the fate of Garib Rath which has not been started so far despite the announcement to this effect a year back. The BJP has been accusing him of playing politics with Jharkhand. Anant Sinha, a trader, said that some three years back the Railways had promised to start a super fast train between Ranchi and Kolkata and the Minister had asked RR Bhandari, the then GM, on May 16, 2005 to start it. But no such train is running despite several reminders.According to the sources, the MPs of Jharkhand would press for the demand to increase the frequency of Rajdhani Express from three to four days making it at par with Patna and would ask for additional super fast express trains from Ranchi to Delhi.Formed some seven years back as a separate State, Jharkhand perhaps is the only State whose capital is not directly linked to the States of south and west India like Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune and Bangalore despite repeated request by the residents and business class of the State, which is hampering the business interests of the State. Ranchi, however, is emerging as a potential market of cloths, but the business suffers, as it is not connected to Surat.People feel that the Railway Minister was neglecting the genuine demands of Jharkhand while granting special favours to other States. Former BJP MP Dukha Bhagat said that the demand for a new rail line from Gumla to Korba was still not met, despite the assurance given by the Minister.However, the railway has six ambitious projects for Jharkhand. The State has sanctioned projects worth Rs 2,541 crore. Among the major projects are new lines like Ranchi-Hazaribagh, Koderma-Ranchi (Rs 1,028 crore), Giridih-Koderma (Rs 401 crore), Koderma-Tilaiya (Rs 307 crore) and Deoghar-Banka Sultanganj (Rs 330 crore). But no progress has been made so far and with every passing day the budget is increasing by 40 per cent.Interestingly, Jharkhand is the only State in the country that came forward to cooperate with Railways Ministry to complete projects in the State and decided to bear half of the cost of the projects which was increased to 66 per cent.Ranchi-Hazaribagh rail line, regarded as one of the important project for Jharkhand, is still a far cry and the agitated Yashwant Sinha shot a letter to Yadav demanding an inquiry into it. MPs of Jharkhand, including Ajay Maru, had raised this issue in the Parliament during a debate on the Rail Budget. Yadav is stated to have assured the leaders that the work would be completed within the stipulated time.Inder Singh Namdhari, former Jharkhand Assembly Speaker, said during the last seven years no fresh lines were laid in the State. The demand to start Patna-Ranchi Shatabdi Express was turned down by the Minister, he added.

Rail Budget brings not much cheer for Jharkhand

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi RANCHI Wednesday, February 27, 2008 The Pioneer

Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav may claim 'Chak De rail' for his Rail Budget 2008, which he presented in the Parliament on Tuesday, but the people of Jharkhand have nothing to cheer up.The general mood among the people is that Jharkhand is not in the good books of Yadav. The Rail Budget, a basket of comfort, Yadav loves to say, contained nothing that could cheer or give comfort to the people of the State.Out of the 10 new Garib Raths, 50 new trains, extension of 16 trains and 11 other trains whose frequency were raised, the State has to remain contented with a few. The State has got only two new trains including the Garib Rath scheduled to run between Ranchi and Delhi thrice a week and the Ranchi-Chopan Express besides an increase in the frequency of the Ranchi-Bhagalpur Varanchal Express and extension of 8611 upto Sambhalpur. However, Yadav tried to rub balm on the injured feelings of the people by announcing a Railway hospital in Ranchi.But the people termed the Budget as unsatisfactory and anti-Jharkhand since their demand for new trains for Pune, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat and Chennai were not considered. Even the State RJD leaders find it tough to convince the people.Union Minister of State for Food Processing Subodh Kant Sahai termed the Budget satisfactory but accepted that the State was not given a fair share and also no word came on the Ranchi-Hazaribagh dream project. While accepting that the State was not given its due share and new initiative should have been taken to the speedy disposal of projects, Lok Sabha member Bhubaneshwar Prasad Mehta has termed the Budget as historic as Jharkhand was taken seriously for the first time in the last four Rail Budgets. But he declined to say anything when he was reminded that the same Lalu Prasad happened to be the Rail Minister in those days also. The MPs of the State have a last chance to correct this anomaly on March 10 when the Parliament will discuss the Rail Budget.The BJP has already taken cudgel against Yadav and threatened to start an agitation if the demands for new trains were not fulfiled. Rajya Sabha Member Ajay Maru said it was unfortunate that the State was not provided with any train and it was surprising to note that a big State like Jharkhand was allotted only two trains.He also doubted the existing railway projects worth 1,950 crore in the State would be abandoned for want of funds. He contested the statement of Yadav that the State Government did not come forward to run the project as Jharkhand had already provided 750 crore for the six projects.While no new projects were announced for the State it was paining to note that no substantive assurance was given in regard to the six major railway projects running in the State including Ranchi-Hazaribagh, Koderma-Ranchi, Giridish-Koderma, Koderma-Tilaya and Deoghar-Banka Sultanganj. Although, he assured that Deogadh-Dumka and Ghormara-Dumka would be completed very soon but the State failed to garner any new project. Also budget has allocated Rs 1,500 crore to develop Patna and Secunderabad junctions into world class junctions and major stations of the State has not been included.Terming it as the most unfortunate day for Jharkhand, senior BJP leader Yasvant Sinha lambasted Yadav for deliberately killing the Ranchi-Hazaribagh rail line and other projects. He wanted to know the fate of some 14 rail bridges which have not been completed even after eight years. "He will have a tough time to explain this to the people in the next election," he said.Opposition leaders of the State blamed the MPs of Jharkhand belonging to the UPA Government, who remained mute spectators during the entire Budget speech and did not walkout as their counterparts from Gujarat did. There is no NDA Government at the Centre and they have no pretext to blame NDA for not giving fair share to the State. Now Jharkhand would have to wait for the final exit of Lalu Prasad Yadav to get its share, they said.

======================================

Change of guard likely in BJP

Vijay Deo Jha Published February 18. 2008 The Pioneer

The central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party seems to be contemplating a change of guard in Jharkhand. In all probability, it may go in for a veteran party leader to head the organisation in the State. The rumours doing the rounds in the party headquarters here suggest that Member of Rajya Sabha Devdas Apte could be assigned the task to gear up the party in the State. The names of party MLA from Jamshedpur West Saryu Rai, Dineshanand Goshwami, former State party president, Yadunath Pandey, former State chief, Raghubar Das and Sunil Singh also figure in the list of the prospective president of the State BJP. Already worried about the repeated defeats of the party in the byelections including the recent Semaria byelection, the party high command fears a mass debacle in the next Assembly election if the corrective measures were not taken. Since the party is also eyeing to capture at least 10 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand, the central leadership is serious about handing over the reigns to a more capable person . According to the sources, the BJP president, Rajnath Singh have conveyed his concern over the poor performance of the party to the State president of BJP, PN Singh during his Delhi visit a week ago. PN Singh had gone to Delhi to discuss the proposed rally of the party. The Leader of Opposition of BJP in the State assembly Arjun Munda who was on a personal visit to Delhi also met the senior party leaders and he was also conveyed the same. The high command has not taken it kindly that the state unit did not convene a review meeting on the defeat of the party in Simaria.But, the party does not want to take any decision in hurry as it would create confusion among the party cadre and prefers to maintain a status quo till the month of March when the civic body polls would be over. The party expects to regain lost grounds by way of better performance in the corporation election. Although, the said election is not fought on the party line but the State leadership is considering it an opportunity to impress the central leadership.However, the present incumbent, PN Singh, who will in any case continue to be the State president till next year, ruled out such possibility. He, however, conceded that the State BJP required an overhauling which was slated to be discussed after the month of March. He hinted that an important meeting of the party functionaries may be convened in the last week of this month to discuss the issues including the strategies to revive the party to perform well in the corporation elections.

No non-tribal CM in State, says Kailashpati Mishra

No non-tribal CM in State, says Kailashpati Mishra

Vijay Deo Jha February 14. 2008

BJP may find it difficult if it go ahead with its plan to project a non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand, if the party comes to power in the next Assembly election. The issue became significant as a senior BJP leader and former Governor of Gujarat Kailashpati Mishra asserted that he would stop the Central high command from installing a non-tribal as the Chief Minister of the State, if the party come to power. Mishra had come to participate in the 177th martyrdom anniversary of Vir Bhuddhu Bhagat at Ranchi.The statement not less than a senior most party leader, at least confirms that the party was deeply divided on the issue and the high command was also aware of this controversy. The blunt remark of the senior leader must have dampened the spirit of a section of BJP leaders who are keenly campaigning for a non-tribal CM.

BJP goes on offensive after Simaria debacle

BJP goes on offensive after Simaria debacle
Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi RANCHI Wednesday, February 13, 2008

After remaining silent for a week after the defeat of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) candidate in Simaria, the party leadership is now trying to resume an attacking posture against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Arjun Munda, leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, tried to inject fresh blood in the rank and file of the party workers in a rally of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) at Madhukam, Ranchi. However, the party is more defensive rather than offensive this time. It has not come out and still under a state of shock after its humiliating defeat in the Simaria by-election. The party leadership is doing 'atma manthan' (instrospection) to find the reason for the failure of the party but at the same time is trying to reconcile with this defeat. However, even on Tuesday no top leaders of the party are ready to provide any concrete reason for the loss of their face in Simaria, nor they accept that the this defeat had any impact on the morale of the party. But, the top leaders of the party accept that the party became marginalised in the State politics after this election and they needed to strengthen the party. The top priority of the party at present is to stop any possible poaching by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) whose president Babulal Marandi has openly challenged the BJP to take action against MLAs sympathetic to the JVM. The defeat has started an internal squabbling in the party over the issue of leadership. According to sources, a section of party is blaming a top leader of the BJP for this defeat and questioned the much hyped pad yatra of Yasvant Sinha. This is also said that the talk of a non-tribal Chief Minister by some of the leaders of BJP polarised the traditional tribal vote banks of BJP in favour of JVM, which went against the party. The party has changed its strategy and henceforth it would prefer to project the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) responsible for the misrule in the State. It has found a weapon in the form of the soft stand of the Minister of State for Urban Development and observer of the State Congress Ajay Maken on the issue of support to the Madhu Koda Government. It is banking more upon the internal difference of UPA. The party is calculating a possible rupture in the relations of the Congress and the RJD in the near future which they think would help BJP to expose UPA in the State. The party is also carefully watching the proposed induction of Sibu Soren into the Central Cabinet which they hope unfold a political drama in the State.

UPA has weakened in Jharkhand, says Subodhkant Sahay

UPA has weakened in Jharkhand, says Subodhkant Sahay
Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi RANCHI Sunday, February 3, 2008

The UPA has no more remained united in Jharkhand. The alliance will think of its strategy after the result of Simaria by-election. Those criticising the Congress party and its decision to file its candidate will come to realise our present stand on the development issue of Koda's Government, once the result was published,"Subodhkant Sahay said this in an exclusive interview with The Pioneer. Sahay had come to Vikash Bhavan, Ranchi to donate an ambulance van to Ram Krishna mission TB Sanatorium, Tupudhana and sewing machines among the members of a self-help group.Speaking in the context of the Simaria by-election and the on going tussle in UPA, Sahay said that the by-election was not a sort of friendly contest as said by some of the UPA partners. He accepted that the Congress was trading alone in the State and hinted that the solidarity of UPA had shattered in Jharkhand. Taking about the strategy of the party after the result of the by-election he said that they would not hesitate to go alone in Jharkhand and said that the party would recover its strength sooner or later.Sahay was upset over the tirade of Lalu Prasad Yadav, challenging Ajay Maken and other State leaders of the Congress party on fielding its candidate in the by-election. "Lalu Prasad should not go berserk if the Congress fielded its candidate. Instead preaching us he should analyse his own acts in the past", Sahay said that the party would not cringe for a political space in the State from its UPA allies. He accepted that there was a lack of coordination among the UPA allies in deciding candidate for the by-election but nobody can blame the Congress for ditching its allies. It was RJD, which started this trend. The party had the natural claim over Simaria as it had successfully contested the election in the past. However, he did not mention the name of any leader but clued in that a section of leaders of UPA were busy in scripting humiliation of the party. Sahay accepted that the Congress party was trading alone in the State politics but the party was ready to follow ekla chalo re (go alone) rather to face humiliation.The much-hyped decision of the Congress to take a major decision after by- election has put the UPA allies on tenterhook. But, for Sahay, the by-election was not a benchmark or a time line to decide on the fate of the government. Yet, he did not decline that more or less the result of the by-election would have an over all impact on the state politics. However, he parried any possible regime change after by-election, but hinted that anybody who can bring development was welcomed. He denied that the party in general and Ajay Maken in particular were averse to Madhu Koda. "Koda is not an issue for us, we supported him to fulfil the aspiration of the people and to speed up the development but he we have asked Koda to show result" he said.But, the party does not seem to be satisfied with the performance and said that UPA allies minus Congress conspired to present a false progress report card to gain sympathy from the public and the Congress high command. The party has decided to make it an issue in the by- election, he said.