He banks upon his voters, not on his bank

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

He flung a simple notion into Hatia’s fiery electoral battle that elections can be contested without money also, all too aware about public forecast and personal foreboding that he has least chances to win.

To a people torn between such high-voltage campaign and powerful candidates he merely decided to say: “I don’t have any party, I don’t have flags. I don’t promise beyond the point that I am your servant.”

Virendra Bhagat has truly been a nightmare for political parties and candidates those who are aware of his hold over rural voters. He is contesting as an independent against all the power and resources of parties like the Congress, AJSU and the JVM. Contesting 2009 assembly election from Hatia as the JMM candidate he remained on fourth position by netting 22,173 votes.

The JMM denied him ticket in this by-election as the party decided not to field any candidate. Bhagat, a popular face among tribal knows how to win hearts and votes. “Jo paise ka khel Hatia me ho rahaa hai uske khilaf log aage aa rahe hain. Mere paas paise nahi mere paas public aur unka support hai. (The people are coming forward against use of money in the election. I don’t have money but I have support of the people.)” Many call him a maverick and wonder about his dream to contest election and win it without spending even a single penny. But they, too, appreciate the way the man has carved his constituency and followers.

“While rest of the candidates has pumped money ensuring all comforts for people campaigning for them but youths campaigning for Bhagat doesn’t require these. People even bring food from their home and even invest their own savings,” Mahaveer Gupta, owner of a garment shop at Ratu said.

Bhagat exhausted his personal savings to put into his campaign. But that sum was gone even before he could begin to count it, so he went to the people. But his supporters and people of his area started filling up his coffers with fivers and tenners, and a couple of odd hundred-rupee note, too. He is sure to reflect poorly upon poll expenditure sheet of the Election Commission but he is getting impressive response.

His candidature and claims are being discussed at roadside tea stalls and eateries, one who has consolidated his hold over tribal voters in parts of Itki, Ratu, Naya Sarai, Kute and Nagri area. “He is a unique candidate who is seeking vote along with note,” said one Dinesh Sao. Dinesh wouldn’t mind even wasting his vote for a candidate who is popular but assures no guarantee.

But he has given many sleepless nights to party candidates. The Congress candidate Sunil Sahay has been in disparate bid to gain grounds in the rural area. Bhagat is there to stop him. The JVM chief Babulal Marandi has pulled all stops to make a dent in his loyal vote bank for his candidate Ajay Nath Sahdeo. He returned without getting any convincing assurance. In Naya Sarai youths appeared less obsessed with tantalizing offers and resources of the AJSU Party.

“He is challenging us from the flank. Though, he has no support base in the urban area but in his area of control he is potential contender,” a senior BJP leader said.

Bhagat becomes bit over conscious while talking to journalists and flash of camera. Every time the camera clicks, he halts mid-sentence…“flash dazzles me I am not used to this. His followers at Kute laugh at the discomfiture of their hero. He raises issues that concern his constituents: displacement. But Bhagat appears a man of more courage and conviction than a flashbulb can daunt.

“I don’t have resource but have reason to fight. Many call me vote katwa but I am fighting for people,” he said. He may loose battle but not the cause to it.