Munda concludes his trips, Hemant wonders how to begin

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

There is a strong central view in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) that Chief Minister Arjun Munda is subtly surveying and strengthening political and electoral prospect of his party—the BJP— by undertaking frequent tours across the State.

JMM insiders confessed the party bosses have reasons to remorse since their wake-up calls arrived quite late because by this Munda has already completed more than six legs of tours of districts in last one year. Munda on Wednesday returned Ranchi after completing four days of Johar Yatra hinting further trips in making. 

JMM is an alliance partner in Munda led BJP-JMM-AJSU- Janta Dal (United) and has four ministers including Hemant Soren who is deputy Chief Minister.

The fear in the JMM has made considerable delay in preparing grounds for upcoming elections and Munda has outshined the JMM in this regard. The JMM insiders accepted that Munda through such trips has certainly improved his party on political and electoral index which ultimately will barricade the prospect of the JMM. JMM chief Shibu Soren, insiders said, roughly prodded Hemant to come out of cozy conform of his plush office and ministerial bungalow in Ranchi and undertake similar tours and reviews and assert his authority as deputy CM. In the last couple of days Hemant’s office remained busy in chalking out detailed itinerary of official trip to Dhanbad and adjoining districts where he will review government projects.

“Baap-bete ke beech ka mamla hai, (This is between father and son,)” a top JMM leader said adding: “But they (Sorens) have realized and learnt quite late to encash the performance of government for the party…while Mundaji played masterstrokes he (Hemant) was collecting the ball on the fence” a close Soren aide put it.

 Nevertheless, Munda deliberately banished party flags at any such public programmes during trips. He kept it a mixture of coalition conglomerate and even inviting Opposition. He never took sloe credit of what so ever the success coalition government has achieved so far, but he carried a larger sense of having put his best efforts and visions to bring best for the people out of government’s kitty. Aware of the fact running a coalition government is a risky and uncertain enterprise Munda made best use of these occasions to tone-up party organization to secure an incremental constituency.

Trouble has just erupted on the coalition front and surface bonhomie between coalition allies have turned into shadow boxing. Senior Soren has been signalling to the BJP leadership to hand over CM’s post to the JMM after January next year. Munda will respond JMM’s call in the right time, as he told the media. Munda may not have opportunity to decide his next trip but Hemant must be wondering how to begin.