Not face to face; but friends under coalition’s compulsion
October 10, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA | RANCHI

Raja Peter is a dark and lovely irony of this coalition Government: dark and lovely like his flowing silky hair.

This JD (U) MLA’s induction in the coalition Ministry led by Arjun Munda on Saturday was loathed by fairly shrunken ranks of the loyalists of JMM chief Shibu Soren whom Peter had finished in the by-election of Tamar assembly seat in January 2009.

“We accept that coalition politics means compulsion and compromise with the circumstances. Even after, we are not able to digest his elevation as Minister. We cannot
erase the past memory and scratches of humiliation.

I do not know how Soren and others are feeling now,” a central secretary of the JMM said soon after the oath-taking ceremony on Saturday.

In the BJP-JMM-AJSU-JD (U) coalition Government where Soren has been appointed as
chairman; Cabinet steering committee; Soren is sure for a frequent encounter with Peter.

But then, JMM has been in no position to dictate the list of the Ministers of the coalition parties. Peter’s selection had the official nod of the JD (U) with the backing of Munda.

“Politically I am not opposed to Peter. But average JMM workers have not forgotten the defeat of Soren and they dislike Peter more then they like Soren. Despite our repeated efforts and plea Peter and likes had not withdrawn from the contest.

Their sole objective was to defeat Soren. Now you are shaking hands,” senior JMM leader and Littipara MLA Simon Marandi said.

But then, it is coalition politics. “Be it coalition politics or collision politics; certain things never change. For JMM leaders; politics is a business to make fast bucks,” Marandi said.
Peter had contested as Jharkhand Party candidate and the defeat changed the face of State politics: Soren had to resign as Chief Minister of the coalition Government and faced the biggest political drubbing and humiliation of his life.

The man fashioned himself in a new identity Abhutpurva Bidhayak, (extraordinary MLA) after the election result accepting that defeating a serving Chief Minister would remain the biggest achievement of his political career; short yet shining. But then he had become the member of that exclusive club of the politicians, who at some point of time had defeated any serving Chief Minister or Prime Minister.Peter became the poster boy of State politics, but, Soren’s loyalists never forgot and never forgave him for dashing the cultivated image of their master in the battlefield of Tamar: Invincible Guru.


Nevertheless, after the result Peter could not see the face of the State Assembly as Jharkhand was brought under President’s rule for an extended period. He was loath to admit Abhutpurva Bidhayak again — its meaning had totally changed as he once said that he felt neither like a sitting nor former MLA. Peter later on contested as JD (U) candidate from Tamar in the last Assembly election.

Soren again became Chief Minister with the support of the BJP-AJSU and JD (U) and Peter was eager to erase that negative imprint. He got cold response. He is still attempting a thaw.

“Tamar election was a different story; it was an election. Soren will always remain a respected leader of Jharkhand. He has blessed me and will guide us with his vision for the development of Jharkhand,” Peter said.

The dark and unlovely irony is that Soren seems to have still not recovered from the Tamar shock.

He flinched when Peter bent down to seek his blessings after taking oath. Was it a blessing, was it a curse it is is mystry.