A document written in defense of Munda’s government
VIJAY DEO JHA
RANCHI
It is going to be too late and too little an exercise. After a month of government formation, Chief Minister Arjun Munda’s core think tank group has come out with documented reply of the Opposition’s charge over government formation exercise as handshake of opportunist political forces.
Presented in the book form ‘Jharkhand Me Lokpriya Sarkar Ka Gathan Media Ki Nazar Me’ comes with succinct forwarding of three key Munda advisors —Harendra Kumar Singh, political advisor Dr Vidyanath Jha ‘Vidit’ and Ayodhyanath Mishra. Rests are the collage of the media reporting over government formation exercise from September 7 to September 15.
Writing prologue for the book, Singh claims that government formation exercise had the backing of the people. “People believe that Munda having enough experience and wisdom will do best for the betterment of the State…government formation exercise was full of challenges and odds but he did it in larger public interest.” Singh mentions challenges ahead for Munda: drought: extremism: migration of people: poverty and unemployment.
Mishra carries on the argument ahead with suave political overture. “Fractured mandate,” he writes, “should be understood in another way. It is a message for the political parties to set the agenda for the development of the state while sinking political differences and boundaries.”
Vidit who now is more focused and preoccupied with academic and literary pursuit as an important functionary of the Sahitya Akademi holds identical view.
“If electing government is people’s concern; formation exercise is the responsibility of the elected representatives. Fractured mandate has an embedded message that political parties have to come together to respect the wishes of the people. President’s Rule or Assembly in suspended animation mode can not be the substitute of the government. Assembly is the right forum to address public issues.”
He ends with stinging note. “Those in the Opposition who have criticised government formation were also in the race to form government.” It is JVM chief Babulal Marandi.
Front page a fine gloss is the child of imagination; born out of perfect mating of imagination with Photoshop. As though, government formation exercise was not less than the epical war of Mahabharat, Munda occupies the main face of the book in guise of Arjun holding Gandiv in the battlefield. JMM chief Shibu Soren resembles to Bhishma Pitamah at first glance due to his snowy long beard. Behold, he is Krishna actually holding wheel in his hand. AJSU chief and Deputy CM Sudesh Kumar Mahto is has been portrayed as Bhim. But Soren’s political heir and deputy CM in the government; Hemant Soren must be grousing for getting no space on the main face. He should turn back face of the book; he can spot himself standing with Munda and Sudesh surrounded by green luster and wild life.
The inside of the book is stuffed with carefully selected clippings of print media reports glorifying ‘Munda’s Master Stroke,’ in forming the government. ‘Munda Ki Har Chal Me Kamal,’ writes one, ‘Hum Na Bolenge Hamara Kaam Bolega,’ ‘Munda becomes CM,’ ‘Munda sets his agenda,’ ‘Munda swings it,’ etc. Catalogue is exhaustive but colourful.
Resisting overdose of panegyric, the compiler has added few reports of conflict within the party and Opposition’s quip. But critical clippings of key and contentious buzz of involvement of industrial houses behind the formation exercise have been omitted. That could have been too much.
