Sangama, Mukherjee to visit Jharkhand to garner support

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Two front runners of presidential election; the NDA nominee Purno Agitok Sangma and Congress’ pick Pranab Mukherjee have scheduled their Ranchi visit on Wednesday and Thursday respectively to garner electoral support to secure passage to the Raisina Hills.

Their respective party and allies have already explained reasons as to why political parties in Jharkhand should support them.

Announcing scheduled of Ranchi visit of Sangma, state BJP spokesperson Pradeep Sinha at a press conference, on Monday, said that he (Sangma) will meet coalition Chief Minister Arjun Munda. Sangma will meet Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren and Deputy Chief Minister to seek JMM’s support. BJP legislative body meeting is likely to be held the day Sangma will arrive; BJP sources said. While Sangma is expected to explain reasons behind expecting support from this tribal state; the BJP explained it beforehand.

“He is a seasoned parliamentarian one who has proved himself as Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Important thing is that he is tribal and Jharkhand being a tribal state must support him,” Sinha said.

Mukherjee is also scheduled to visit Ranchi on Thursday for a formal meeting with his party MLAs and MPs besides confirming supports from other regional players and independents.

Mukherjee might have chucked many a demands of Jharkhand for concession and special economics as Finance Minister but he is getting support of political parties including JMM, JVM and independents. BJP’s two sets of arguments to persuade its coalition ally; the JMM, seem to have failed miserably. JMM being a tribal centric party ought to support him, and, Mukherjee must be punished for ignoring genuine claims of Jharkhand. BJP and the JMM are the part of coalition government under queer political arrangements: JMM is within NDA fold in Jharkhand while at the Centre it is with the UPA.

Soren seems to have cleaved effortlessly away from BJP and reconfirmed his well-earned reputation for political trapeze in the light of thick hints dropped by the party could consider a tribal as next President. Party sources explained cryptic and profound reasons behind change of mind. “Mind it is a presidential election and not the election of village head,” a senior JMM functionary cautioned, “being a tribal can’t be the sole qualification. Experience and political acceptability matter in such cases. Mukherjee has no comparison with Sangma.”   

It could well be said that the BJP in Jharkhand is sulking in a corner where it can’t locate an ally to support Sangma. The JD (U) having two MLAs in Jharkhand will be hardly important either for Mukherjee and Sangma but the state leadership has been harping on the Nitish Kumar tune to support Mukherjee.

There is no clue yet to come to a conclusion that how AJSU Party leadership intends to respond the BJP’s call. There is even lesser knowledge of calibrated strategy of the AJSU Party that acts discreetly at the last moment without going loud over megaphone.