JMM’s 3 D approach on FDI

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

JMM’s political stand over Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and voting pattern in the Parliament; is basically a three dimensional story that can confuse even seasonal dabblers in politics.

The JMM having three MPs in the parliament — two in the Lower and one in Upper House —drifted in three different directions when the UPA government was stitching numbers for smooth passage of the FDI Bill against Opposition’s many a roadblocks.

The JMM chief and Dumka MP, Shibu Soren, preferred to stay in Ranchi on the day of voting. Party’s Palamu MP Kameswar Baitha supported FDI saying he voted as per party instruction. But the lone party MP in Rajya Sabha, Sanjeev Kumar, walked-out during voting that led many in the party to clamour the man must be served with show cause notice for going against the party line.

And the party line remained as confusing as the JMM happens to be. Sanjeev who is long time associate of Soren and his family lawyer as well, promptly clarified the party did not issue any whip or a written directive to support UPA on FDI Bill during voting. Though, the hawks in the JMM soon withdrew their daggers once realizing the lawyer is technically correct if not politically. But they insist a through debate on the party forum since the party patriarch had cleared his stand some two months back. 

“It happened due to communication gap. Guruji (Soren) had made the stand very clear the JMM will not align with NDA and other Opposition. Our MPs were required to support FDI Bill. When a high level meeting will be called in coming days we will definitely seek an explanation. But no show cause notice against him,” party’s central secretary Vinod Pandey explained.

Nevertheless, these odd three votes could not make much difference in the number game of the UPA but Soren’s loyalists feel the Congress may interpret it JMM sailing in two boats: UPA and NDA as well. Technically, the JMM claims to be in the UPA fold. “We are running coalition government with BJP in Jharkhand but we are not with NDA. But I am not sure as how FDI voting move is going to be interpreted,” a senior party leader said. 

The leader elaborately explained that even absence and walk-out during voting is a kind of latent or indirect kind of support which the Congress bosses should appreciate.

At this moment ‘communication gap’ has been offered as probable reason behind ‘walk out’ but no idea so far that probably guided Soren to stay at home instead joining UPA’s solidarity show during voting. “He was set to attend parliamentary session but had to defer it due to some reasons,” Pandey said.

But then the JMM is known for taking surprised political decisions believed to be influenced by intriguing political and personal circumstances. In 2010 Soren was Chief Minister of BJP supported coalition government when he had voted against BJP sponsored ‘Cut Motion’ against Central UPA government. An exasperated BJP withdrew support causing his unceremonious exit from the power seat. That time Soren had dispatched passionate letter to BJP bosses and lamented it a lapse on his part saying he did it out of mistake. And within a quick succession Soren made a volte face and fired ammo on BJP and said that voting UPA was his conscious decision. This one man show party has always remained a puzzle for BJP and Congress which is its USP, too.