Tamar bypoll deferred

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The by-election of Tamar scheduled to be held on December 29 have been deferred. As per the decision taken by the Election Commission of India the by-election would be held on January 5 whereas the counting of votes would take place on January 8.

Citing its inability to mobilise the requisite number of central security personnel for the by-election on time the EC in an official note sent to Jharkhand Chief Electoral officer on Monday afternoon directed to hold the election on January 5.

Informing this decision the Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand, Debasish Gupta said: "By-election of Tamar has been extended since the EC has not been able to mobilize sufficient number of central forces." However, he declined to reveal the numbers of security forces that EC wanted to deploy. But the informed sources said that the State Election Commission was directed to deploy about 25 companies of central forces such as Central Reserve Police Forces.

The sources further added that till this date it could deploy only 11 such companies. Owing to security reasons - Tamar is a Maoist-infested area where maximum numbers of polling booths have been declared super-sensitive - the commission could not risk conducting the election without fool-proof security measures, sources said.An official of the State electoral office who did not want to go on record confided that the EC took the decision after getting intelligence input which indicated large scale violence and irregularities in the proper deployment of forces at every booth during the by-election.

The political class reacted cautiously over the decision where as others (JDU candidate) reacted sharply to it. The senior BJP leader Arjun Munda said that the NDA wanted the by-election should be conducted fairly. "Security has been a thing a thing of utmost importance for the political parties…but the inability of the EC to mobilize forces raises question", he added.

But for JD (U) candidate Vasundhara Munda it was a well calculate move to give the Chief Minister Shibu Soren some more time to manage the thing in his own favour. "The reason as cited by the commission can amaze anybody…how they managed to mobilize the forces so quickly for conducting assembly elections of five states a month back", Munda questioned the rationale.

Soren is contesting the by-election as the official candidate of the UPA and the NDA have expressed its fear about the use of the official machinery in his favour.

But the president state BJP Pashupati Nath Singh preferred to comment only after going through the details of the decision and said that the NDA was prepared to contest the election on coming Monday. "We (NDA) have demand the EC to conduct a free and fair election and also want that the model code of conduct must not be flouted. If security is indeed a bona fide reason behind it than the NDA would ask the EC to ensure tight security", he added.

Security might a reason behind the extension of the date but the decision has come as a great succor to Soren. Not willing to be quoted a senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader said that as time was extended Soren could use the occasion to consolidate his support base in Tamar.

Cong willing to join Soren Cabinet!

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, December 22, 2008
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After a countless number of denials of reports appearing in the media, the State Congress finally accepted that it was willing to join the State Cabinet led by Chief Minister Shibu Soren. But conditions apply.

"It could be possible only if the Chief Minister makes a request to the Congress central high command in this regard…and if we get such offer we (Congress) will think of it", Jharkhand Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu said on the sideline of the party's district presidents meeting in Ranchi.

Balmuchu further added that it all depended upon the nod of the high command and indicated that party had no such problem with the proposal. The evasiveness of the party president had several reasons as the central leadership had virtually frowned at the party MLAs for demanding plum post of corporations and boards.

Following the removal of two of the Ministers after the Vigilance court framed them in corruption cases the political class and media have been speculating about the whose who of new Ministers. Even party sources confirmed the willingness of their party president and confided about his calculated move.

Now, after compelling Soren to contest the Tamar by-election the State Congress has come forward to hitch onto his electoral wagon with a number of programmes. It has directed its district presidents to camp in Tamar for electioneering. The party workers will be covering blocks and villages of Tamar through bicycle march from December 23 to 25. Balmuchu informed that the party leaders would start active electioneering in all the three blocks of Tamar.

Despite its dwindling base in Tamar which nosedived after suffering electoral discomfiture twice here the by-election has come as a moral responsibility for the Congress to make Soren win.

The Congress has an answer to it. Politics takes no time to change its dynamics. The United Progressive Alliance hopes for a swing in the favour of Soren in the coming days, said Balmuchu. It is a combined predicament of the UPA that it suffers organisational atrophy at the grassroot level.

Finding grains of their agenda in the war of words of politicians

Common man agenda loses sheen in Tamar

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Sunday, December 21, 2008

The politics of Jharkhand shifted its base from the State capital to Tamar with the contingent of State politicians rushing down there with a near-consensus view to snatch victory for their candidates. But between the so called litmus test of the UPA candidate Shibu Soren, the sympathy wave of Vasundhara Munda of JD (U) and proclaimed popularity of Raja Peter of Jharkhand Party and others; the people of Tamar wait their just dues amid the smear campaign among the candidates.

Knowing well that their every single vote would decide the fate of the political stalwarts and the State Government; voters are confused amid the blitzkrieg electioneering, as the agenda of aam admi seems to be loosing its shine before the political vendetta and priority of the party and leaders.

Bijli, sarak aur pani the new edition in the political lexicon found little space in the political discourse even though Tamar is an agricultural belt where people have been demanding irrigation facilities from quite some times.

The campaigning here has been veering around the local versus outsider. Even despite his all Jharkhand acceptability, Soren has been largely projected as an outsider. The detractors of Soren are still not allowing him to go beyond his Santhal identity. However, the JMM sources said that they would be able expand their bandwidth and trying to impress the people with the gain they could get if their constituency is represented by the Chief Minister.

Congress which literally forced Soren to kick out two of his Cabinet Minister Ainosh Ekka and Harinarayan Roy has come to his aide. The in-charge of State Congress Abdul Mannan along with other party leaders toured Tamar on Saturday.

Political honeymoon of Hani Koda

UPA seeks another spell of honeymoon with Madhu Koda

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Saturday, December 20, 2008

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) may be patting its back for taking the 'bold decision' which necessitated the exit of two Cabinet Ministers—Ainosh Ekka and Harinarayan Roy—but all eyes are now riveted on Chief Minister Shibu Soren who has to perform the major task of inducting two new faces in the Cabinet.

But, the State Congress is working on two well-calculated strategies, both for long and short terms, one for the possible induction of new faces in the Cabinet, but the other strategy of the Congress might just open up a Pandora's box _ which the party would reveal only if Soren faces rout in Tamar by-election.

Informed sources within the Congress confided that State party president Pradeep Balmuchu was also willing to join the Cabinet provided the Central leadership gives green signal to it. However the official version of the Congress termed the speculation untenable.

The Congress leaders may apparently exude hope for the victory of Soren despite hurdles and determined opposition placed in his way. But nonetheless they are well aware of the ground reality and realpolitik that may not be politically ominous for Shibu.
Party sources did not deny the possibility, that the Congress might stake claim for the post of the State premier if Soren fails to enter the State Assembly from Tamar- asking the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to extend support,

Meanwhile, the UPA is working on the formula to neutralize the collective political strength of the independent MLAs by making a dent into their fold. Well-placed sources maintained that the names of few more Ministers might appear on the other side of the firing line.
Erstwhile Chief Minister Madhu Koda who was sulking on the political margin after his removal as Chief Minister some three months back is being wooed to join the Cabinet as Rural Development Minister, the informed sources said.

However Koda refused to speak his mind over his proposed induction in the Cabinet on Thursday evening while rubbing his shoulder with other UPA leaders announcing and supporting the decision to remove two of his former Cabinet duumvirs.

It was not a determined Soren who on Thursday spelled his farman to remove Ekka and Roy. It was rather the Balmuchu effect, which forced Soren to fire his Cabinet colleagues after the former threatened 'no more support' to him if he failed to axe Ekka and Roy. The sources said that Soren wanted to defer the decision till the by-election of Tamar, but unfortunately failed to be in the command of the situation.

See you at Tamar Soren

Soren talks tough

Fires Ainosh and Harinarayan Rai

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Friday, December 19, 2008

The ongoing political melodrama in Jharkhand reached its crescendo when Chief Minister Shibu Soren sacked Rural Development Minister Ainosh Ekka and Urban Development Minister Harinarayan Roy from his Cabinet on Thursday. This took place immediately after the Assembly passed the supplementary Budget. With this decision Soren passed on the message to his political rivals that he too could talk and act tough.

Soren had earlier said that Ekka could be removed from the Cabinet if he did not withdraw his party candidate Raja Peter from the electoral fray of Tamar.
A formal notification removing the two ministers is likely to be issued by Friday evening after acting Governor RL Bhatia approves the recommendations.

Soren sent the recommendation to remove the two ministers to Raj Bhavan through his Principal Secretary BK Tripathi on Thursday evening. Tripathi handed over the recommendation sent in a sealed envelope to the Principal Secretary to Governor Sudhir Tripathi who has sent it to Patna through a special emissary.

Since Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi has gone on Haj, Bihar Governor RL Bhatia is also in charge of Jharkhand.

Earlier in an unexpected media briefing on the sidelines of the second day of the winter session of the State Assembly Soren announced this decision and said: "I decided to drop Ainosh Ekka and Harinarayan Roy from the Cabinet as they have been facing corruption charges and the Vigilance Department has been investigating into this"

Just after the conclusion of the session the UPA leaders held an in-camera meeting to take a final decision on the removal of both the Ministers and stressed that it was high time when Soren should show a brave face. The meeting was attended by Jharkhand UPA Steering Committee chairperson Madhu Koda besides others. Koda also supported the decision of the UPA but evaded the issue of his possible induction in the Cabinet. But well-placed sources confided Koda could be inducted in the Cabinet.

Soren also added that it was not in the interest of the State to retain both of them as their retention might stymie the investigation against them. When mediapersons popped question on whether or not the decision would weaken the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in Jharkhand; Soren said that it was the collective decision of the UPA and the fear was unwarranted.

However the decision was well anticipated as well-placed sources in the UPA had hinted drop a day before that the duo could be dropped just after the supplementary Budget. Even Soren was under pressure to talk hard on this issue after the belligerent Ekka refused to withdraw his party nominee Raja Peter from the by-election of Tamar where Soren has been contesting as an official candidate of the UPA.

The hint of the likely departure of Ekka became clearer after the absence of the Minister from the House during money bill. While reacting over the decision Ekka said: "I feel relieved after the decision was taken and want to congratulate honourable Chief Minister Shibu Soren and my friends in the UPA who scripted this decision…but I am more resolute. Let Guruji (Soren) come to Tamar and get a bitter taste of defeat. My party and candidate are there in Tamar to make him realise his potential."Hardening his stand against the UPA and Soren, Ekka termed the decision as politically motivated and said that Soren and his chosen ilk could not digest the popularity of his party (Jharkhand Party) in Jharkhand and Tamar.

"Their hard talk did not work; forked tongue could not deter me and now they have resorted to arm twisting me…let them do it I will not budge from my stand. They are taking refuge behind Vigilance cases to remove me. Let them speak honestly that they (UPA) removed me because I did not remove my candidate", Ekka said in a barbed tone.

Prize head

UPA allies clamour for Ainosh’s head

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Thursday, December 18, 2008

On Tuesday night Chief Minister Shibu Soren had claimed a decision on belligerent Rural Development Minister Ainosh Ekka would be taken by Wednesday morning, but he has now sought more time to arrive at any final decision. He said he needed two-three more days to seriously ponder over the issue.

Soren seems to be buying time over the removal of Ekka after the refusal of the latter to withdraw his party candidate Raja Peter from the by-election of Tamar Assembly constituency in the favour of Soren.

Soren is however under pressure from within the UPA allies of Jharkhand to drop the Minister after the supplementary budget was passed by the House, the sources said. Soren whose political stature came under the direct firing line would hardly like to invite another political trouble for himself by firing Ekka in between the six-day long winter session which started from Wednesday.

Emerging out after the first day of the winter session of the State Assembly, Soren said on Wednesday: "The decision will not be taken in haste. We need a further consultation among our UPA allies…but a decision could be taken within two or three days." Meanwhile Ekka fired a fresh salvo against the hardening stance of the UPA and said that none of the UPA leaders talked to him on the issue…Soren himself would be responsible for his rout, he said.

Ekka also took a dig at his removal from the Cabinet: "I am saddened that the UPA is still thinking over my removal…they should have removed me long back. They held a meeting but could not come to any conclusion? It distresses me," he said."It is no 'offence' if the Jharkhand Party fielded Raja Peter from Tamar. It was well within the knowledge of him (Soren) who gave me a go-ahead signal", he said.

His stand was partially vindicated by independent MLA and Water Resource Minister Kamlesh Kumar Singh who accepted that Ekka executed the decision to put up Peter for the election only after Soren stated clearly his decision not to contest from Tamar. But he said: "It is very much reasonable when a Chief Minister is in the fray other allies of the Government should not jeopardize his electoral prospects." Ekka who came to attend the Assembly session without his official vehicle indicated the days of political honeymoon was over and it was to time to lock horns with Soren in the battlefield of Tamar.

From here he directly drove to Tamar for campaign leaving the UPA partners to hold another meeting on Wednesday to bundle him out politically. On finding it hard to tame the defiant Minister who on Tuesday the UPA dared fold to take all recourses to make the Chief Minister win; the UPA has been forced to play out a more finely calibrated strategy than mere conventional trading of charges.

The splintered view within the UPA however cited that it was best to concentrate on election strategy and winning 'independent friends' to isolate Ekka

Peter to contest from Tamar

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Tamar is heading towards an intense and interesting electoral warfare. The browbeating of Chief Minister Shibu Soren failed to persuade beleaguered Minister of the State Cabinet and president Jharkhand Party, Ainosh Ekka, to withdraw his party candidate Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Peter from the electoral battlefield in favour of Soren.

Monday, the last day to withdraw nomination left Soren and the UPA leaders marooned. Peter withdrew his nomination but as an independent, not as Jharkhand Party candidate. The refusal of Ekka to withdraw Peter, his political boy, must have saddened the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the UPA leaders of Jharkhand who hoped for some miracle to come.

Meanwhile, the UPA would hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to draw further strategy after the Minister refused to fall in line. Whether Ekka should be ousted from the Cabinet could be decided in the meeting.

But there was a miracle in favour of Ekka and his party, which got a shot in its arm followed by the decision of the Election Commission (EC). As per the claim made by Ekka, the EC has recognised Jharkhand Party, the faction led by him as the original party against the claim of another faction led by the departed grand old man of Jharkhand politics NE Horo.

However, the returning officer and SDO Bundu Anil Kumar Poddar refused to divulge anything about this citing it an official matter.

According to official sources two of the candidates - Harisingh Munda and Raja Peter - (who had filed nomination as independents) withdrew their nominations. For Tamar by-election 20 candidates had filed their nominations out of which four nominations were rejected during the scrutiny.

Speaking to The Pioneer in a barb tone Ekka said: "I stand by my word…it was the decision of my party and workers to field Peter…however I was ready for compromise but was portrayed as a villain. Now I am not ready to swallow my words. Peter would contest election as an official candidate of the Jharkhand Party."

The Minister who does not mind even if his head is rolled out; after he cared a fig about the demarche served upon him by Soren blamed the UPA leadership for not getting this issue resolved amicably. Finding himself in an inclement political situation after the decision of the Minister Soren is left in a volatile situation.

However, Soren tried for a thaw after he warned Ekka to withdraw Peter from election or be ready for exit from the Cabinet. The JMM sources claimed that Soren held three such meetings with Ekka to toe the UPA line.

But the meeting came to naught after Ekka refused to understand the coalition dharma.

But contrary to this Ekka termed the JMM claim as baseless and said; "I tried to be reason with them (UPA leader) but the situation was made hostile for me… my words and arguments were not listened to."

After its formation as a separate State; Jharkhand has undergone six by-elections so far; but none of these elections and its campaign have generated such curiosity so far. The fate of the State Government now hinges upon the decision of the electorate.

Tamar is all set to witness a triangular contest among Soren, Vasundhara Munda of the JD (U) and Raja Peter of the Jharkhand Party. For a novice in politics like Vasundhara there is very much to gain in the election. However, Jharkhand's NDA will be under pressure to retain its seat despite a sympathy wave its claims having in its kitty. But for Soren it is a litmus test of his popularity against the cross wave of sympathy and the claimed popularity of Peter, a young man and good orator with long hair.

Is it faux pas of fax or DC misleading facts?

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, December 15, 2008

It is not a case of fa(u)x pas of the fax that led two of the top officials of the State Government to lock their horns. Let Deputy Commissioner Ranchi, Rajiv Arun Ekka claim having not received any fax from the office of the former Cabinet Co-ordination Secretary PK Jajoria to accord 'State honour' to the former Minister and Jharkhand Party leader N E Horo but his office seems to have received the copy of the fax on 6.41 p m on last Thursday.

His office not only received the fax copy but the DC is learnt to have marked it to Nazarat DC for appropriate action on the same date- December 11. The Pioneer is in the possession of the copy (in the picture) which bears the seal of the office of DC, confidential section (top on the left), along with his initial below.

Now as a damage controlling exercise the State Government decided to pay tribute to N E Horo near the Project Building (State secretariat) on Sunday. But the damage has already been done. Earlier Chief Minister Shibu Soren had announced national mourning but the last rites of this late octogenarian leader were performed without State honour. Both the State Government and its top officials are left with a task to cover this classic erroneous mistake with a fine blame game. For these officials it was not as serious as termed by the media. One such official said: "What the hell if the copy was not received, Koi pahar to nahi toot gaya. DC is not supposed to be the fax operator."

On being informed that The Pioneer was in possession of a copy bearing the following particulars mentioned above which contradicts his claim Ekka said: “I did not receive any such fax or communication in this regard.”

Spurning the claim of the official Jajoria said: “That day alone we sent five such faxes to his (DC) office and action was taken. Now how can one claim having not received 'this fax of important nature', we have the confirmation report of the receiving of the fax,” he added.

Interestingly the copy of the letter to accord 'State honour' to Horo was sent to DCs and SPs of Ranchi, Khunti and Simdega simultaneously but all of them declined to have received it. After Ekka the DC of Simdega and Khunti said that they did not receive the copy. The axe finally fell upon Jajoria who was removed from his office after the State Government was criticised for not giving due respect to Horo.

The leaders and officials of Jharkhand would pay tribute to Horo in a glowing term as an institution that spearheaded the movement for a separate Jharkhand. But that a hero like Horo really deserves such treatment that needed to be answered by the State Government which is still caught between fax and faux pas.

Long hair's lock with beard

Peter to contest from Tamar

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Tamar is heading towards an intense and interesting electoral warfare. The browbeating of Chief Minister Shibu Soren failed to persuade beleaguered Minister of the State Cabinet and president Jharkhand Party, Ainosh Ekka, to withdraw his party candidate Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Peter from the electoral battlefield in favour of Soren.

Monday, the last day to withdraw nomination left Soren and the UPA leaders marooned. Peter withdrew his nomination but as an independent, not as Jharkhand Party candidate. The refusal of Ekka to withdraw Peter, his political boy, must have saddened the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the UPA leaders of Jharkhand who hoped for some miracle to come.

Meanwhile, the UPA would hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to draw further strategy after the Minister refused to fall in line. Whether Ekka should be ousted from the Cabinet could be decided in the meeting.

But there was a miracle in favour of Ekka and his party, which got a shot in its arm followed by the decision of the Election Commission (EC). As per the claim made by Ekka, the EC has recognised Jharkhand Party, the faction led by him as the original party against the claim of another faction led by the departed grand old man of Jharkhand politics NE Horo.

However, the returning officer and SDO Bundu Anil Kumar Poddar refused to divulge anything about this citing it an official matter.

According to official sources two of the candidates - Harisingh Munda and Raja Peter - (who had filed nomination as independents) withdrew their nominations. For Tamar by-election 20 candidates had filed their nominations out of which four nominations were rejected during the scrutiny.

Speaking to The Pioneer in a barb tone Ekka said: "I stand by my word…it was the decision of my party and workers to field Peter…however I was ready for compromise but was portrayed as a villain. Now I am not ready to swallow my words. Peter would contest election as an official candidate of the Jharkhand Party."

The Minister who does not mind even if his head is rolled out; after he cared a fig about the demarche served upon him by Soren blamed the UPA leadership for not getting this issue resolved amicably. Finding himself in an inclement political situation after the decision of the Minister Soren is left in a volatile situation.

However, Soren tried for a thaw after he warned Ekka to withdraw Peter from election or be ready for exit from the Cabinet. The JMM sources claimed that Soren held three such meetings with Ekka to toe the UPA line.

But the meeting came to naught after Ekka refused to understand the coalition dharma.

But contrary to this Ekka termed the JMM claim as baseless and said; "I tried to be reason with them (UPA leader) but the situation was made hostile for me… my words and arguments were not listened to."

After its formation as a separate State; Jharkhand has undergone six by-elections so far; but none of these elections and its campaign have generated such curiosity so far. The fate of the State Government now hinges upon the decision of the electorate.

Tamar is all set to witness a triangular contest among Soren, Vasundhara Munda of the JD (U) and Raja Peter of the Jharkhand Party. For a novice in politics like Vasundhara there is very much to gain in the election. However, Jharkhand's NDA will be under pressure to retain its seat despite a sympathy wave its claims having in its kitty. But for Soren it is a litmus test of his popularity against the cross wave of sympathy and the claimed popularity of Peter, a young man and good orator with long hair.

Ainosh gets coalition dharma lesson from Soren

Rajiv/Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Sunday, December 14, 2008

Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi and HRD Minister Bandhu Tirkey are on their mission to persuade their Cabinet colleague and president of the breakaway faction of Jharkhand Party (JP), Ainosh Ekka, to withdraw Raja Peter from the electoral fray of Tamar.

Even Soren tried for a patch-up with his beleaguered Minister and called him up at his official residence on Saturday. The sources present there confided that Soren wanted Ekka to withdraw Peter as the issue portrayed the UPA in bad light and was against the spirit of coalition dharma.

Credible sources hinted Peter could be withdrawn. Ekka wanted not to be held responsible if the former decided to contest the election as an Independent candidate. Peter has clarified his stand to contest election as an Independent candidate. He is under pressure from his own party not to withdraw Peter.

But the impasse seems to continue with the Minister adding “nothing has changed so far” while speaking to The Pioneer. Ekka is looking forward to a “just and honourable solution” and is apparently peeved at the demarche served on him by Soren.

Soren had said: “Remove Peter or you (Ekka) will be thrown out of the Cabinet.” The close aide of Ekka said that Soren issued a politically blunt caveat on the advice of the president of the state Congress, Pradeep Balmuchu, and one of the ministerial colleagues of Ekka.

The UPA is still hopeful of coming out with some political solution to this problem. Speaking on this, Balmuchu said: “We are working on a political solution.” The UPA is treading cautiously over this issue, said one of the MLAs of the Congress. The UPA would wait for December 15 before it finally sacks Ekka from Cabinet.

When it is Peter, Hamlet rules Ekka’s mind

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Saturday, December 13, 2008

Hamlet seems to rule the mind of Ainosh Ekka on whether he should withdraw Raja Peter from the electoral battlefield of Tamar where Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren is contesting as an official candidate of the UPA or not.

"Either withdraw Peter or be ready to face your removal from the Cabinet", was the one-line remark and demarche served by Soren against his Minister when for the first time he officially said that he took a serious note of the fact that one of the Ministers of his Cabinet was ready to politically finish him off.

Speaking on condition of anonymity one of the close confidants of the Minister said: "We are in a precarious situation and do not know what to do about this."

Leave aside the political hectoring which Soren used to browbeat his Minister to dump Peter he has one of the potential weapons in his arsenal- Ekka is facing corruption charges which could be used to tame him. Well-placed sources in the Jharkhand Party confided that the Minister might cave-in and withdraw Peter to ensure 'safe passage' for Soren who fears the Peter factor might torpedo his chances.

Even the beleaguered Minister was caught in the same frame of mind when he was asked to explain his position on this. "I will think over this whether I should withdraw Peter or not." It will only be decided on December 15, the last day of the withdrawal of names whether Ekka finally comes out of his Hamlet like dilemma and decides whether he should stick to the Cabinet or side with the decision of his party that is still adamant about fielding Peter. The Minister had to face a salvo of attack from the leaders of the UPA in the meting, held on Thursday, at the residence of Soren. Speaking over this Sukhdeo Bhagat, Congress MLA from Lohardaga who was present at the meeting said: "You cannot have the privy to be in the State Cabinet and the UPA and oppose the official nominee of the UPA in the election at the same time."

The Minister must be removed from the Cabinet for going against the official line of the UPA that has decided to support Soren, he added. He claimed to have raised this demand in the meeting also.

Well-placed sources in the UPA hinted that Peter would finally withdraw his nomination as some sort of 'bartering' is going on. What sort of bartering it could be _ the sources added it could be anything but not to be revealed at this point of time.

The UPA will leave no stone unturned to secure the victory of Soren in the by-election knowing well the ground reality. The ground reality could be harder for Soren if Peter who lost the Assembly election last time by a thin margin refuses to toe the UPA line. Peter said that he would not withdraw and certainly fight the election. Talking to The Pioneer he said he would also lodge a complaint with the Election Commission as he was being pressurized to withdraw.

Soren’s ultimatum to Ainosh

Vijay Deo Jha/ Rajiv Ranchi Friday, December 12, 2008

Ainosh Ekka, the Rural Development Minister, might be removed from the State Cabinet before the winter session of the State Assembly if he does not withdraw Raja Peter from the forthcoming by-election of Tamar.

Starting a no hold barred attack on Ekka, Chief Minister Shibu Soren gave the hint while briefing media persons after the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.


"He is working against the policy and principle of the UPA which asked him to withdraw his party candidate from Tamar. It is a collective decision of the UPA to field me from Tamar… he will be removed from the State Cabinet before the start of the Winter Session of the State Assembly," Soren said.


The winter session will start from December 17. Soren will file his nomination on Friday for Tamar by-election.


About two days back Ekka at a Press conference had indicated that he was not ready to cave in before the UPA, which has been pressurizing him to withdraw Peter from Tamar. "How can I withdraw Peter… this is the decision of the Jharkhand Party and now I can not override the decision, I will be removed from the party if I withdraw Peter at this juncture," Ekka argued.




Peter, who has filed his nomination as the party candidate of the Jharkhand Party, as well as an independent is learnt to have caused concern among the UPA fold- the presence of Peter in the electoral battle might put hindrance in the way of Soren who fears that Peter factor would prove a political migraine for him.


"I do not know how and when Ekka takes a wise decision… but even Peter contests as an independent candidate Ekka will be held responsible for that", Soren clarified.


Meanwhile the UPA held a crucial meeting at the residence of the Soren on Thursday evening after the adamant minister refused to follow the diktat.


The meeting was attended by ministers including Ainosh Ekka, Harinarayan Rai, Bandhu Tirkey, Dulal Bhuiyan, Nalin Soren, president State Congress Pradeep Balmucchu, RJD MLA Girinath Singh, Annpurna Devi, Congress MP Sushila Kerketta.

Picked up, nurtured and then dumped by AJSU

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Friday, December 12, 2008

He was picked, fondled and finally dumped in the political bin. And with this ended the brief political career of Prahalad Singh Munda, who had nourished an ambition to contest the Tamar by-election as an AJSU candidate.

After a two-month-long sustained media hype the AJSU finally came to realize that this scion of the slain JD (U) MLA of Tamar Ramesh Singh Munda could not be a suitable candidate to take on his stepmother Vasundhara Munda because he was underage. Realization finally dawned upon the young leadership of AJSU spearheaded by its president and former State Home Minister Sudesh Kumar Mahto that Munda by any stretch of imagination could not be fielded in Tamar.

At a time when junior Munda was inducted in the AJSU the senior party leaders dropped hints of his being the probable party candidate. Accordingly the media both electronic and print accorded him a good printing and digital space.

Till then the boy who was living in obscurity, with the only tagline attached to him that he was the son of Ramesh Singh Munda, hogged the limelight of media and political discourse. But he was robbed off his royalty when the AJSU leadership came to know that he was a student of Intermediate Science and was short of minimum age to contest the Assembly election.

What prompted AJSU president Sudesh Mahto and his political coterie to affect a big political bang by projecting the junior Munda against his stepmother was guided by a single logic _ the boy would be able translate a portion of sympathy wave into vote in his favour _ which was running high after the murder of the JD (U) MLA at the hands of Naxal groups in the month of July.

The poll managers and the thinktank of AJSU visualised a clear cut victory with the above dynamics that besides the cadre vote of the AJSU Munda would be able to win away some of the cadre base of the JD (U). Adding further in it the AJSU was very much hopeful about a sharp division of sympathy vote between him and his stepmother besides the sizeable presence of 37 per cent Mahto vote in Tamar_ the number was enough to shove the party to victory.

Well-placed sources in the party said that the feud within the family of the slain MLA was another reason which promoted the AJSU to net in Prahalad. He is the elder son of the late Ramesh from his first wife (who was abandoned after he married Vasundhara) and the AJSU perhaps believed it would be able to project him as the only political heir of Ramesh Singh Munda and not his wife.

Now the AJSU has finally fielded Vijay Singh Manki as the party candidate and is fighting shy on Munda being given unnecessary projection.

Explaining the party position Sudesh said: "He being the son of a late MLA deserves such a welcome but the party was in no mood to project him as a candidate. He is underage and an undergraduate. How can he be fielded in the election?"

But when asked about the two-month-long sustained media and political hype which the party carefully crafted? Sudesh goes blank.

‘Scholars and CMs never face defeat in battle’

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Thursday, December 11, 2008

"So far I have heard that scholars and Chief Ministers never face defeat in the battle whether it is academic or electoral…it will come true in the case of Shibu Soren also," deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi beamed hope before the commencement of the meeting of the State UPA scheduled to be held at his residence. The meeting will make a formal announcement of the candidature of Soren as the UPA candidate for the by-election of Tamar.

Marandi in his mind must have had the example of another Marandi (Babulal Marandi) who fought and won the Ramgarh Assembly election as the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Sounds good. But there are certain elements in the Tamar by-election –the UPA showed an apparent division in its fold as two of the Ministers of the State Cabinet—Ainosh Ekka and Bandhu Tirkey–have fielded their own candidates.

Gopal Krishna Patar known as Raja Peter filed his nomination on Wednesday as the official candidate of Jharkhand Party (Ainosh group) and as an independent too along with Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch of Tirkey which is a mood to put up Kanchan Munda from Tamar.

Not only Marandi but the leaders of the State Congress are terming this logic and hope Tamar will come on a platter for them as no Chief Minister has faced electoral discomfiture so far—however examples are there to fly on the face.

Till the report was filed the UPA meeting was going on, but sources who are scheduled to be present in the meeting informed that UPA leaders were discussing over how to create a 'safe electoral passage' for Soren if he finally agreed to contest from Tamar.

Political analysts believe that Tamar would be the testing ground of the popularity and political acumen of Soren with certain reservation in their mind—Tamar will not come on the platter. It is up to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Soren to prove the political punsters wrong.

"There is no confusion over his (Soren) candidature…he will fight and win", said Marandi. Even Soren also conceded that he was ready to contest. While interacting with selected media group, on Wednesday, at the Governor's House Soren said: "I can file my nomination any day." There are only two days left for filing the nomination.

Meanwhile the UPA allies have exerted pressure upon Ekka to withdraw Raja Peter. Not the UPA leaders alone even Soren is learnt to have asked Ekka to withdraw Peter from the electoral fray. Sources close to Ekka confided about an in-camera meting of Soren with Ekka on Wednesday afternoon. The JD (U) will hold an impressive procession to mark the nomination of its official candidate Vasundhara Munda.

The chief whip of JD (U) in Bihar State Assembly Shravan Kumar and in-charge of the election held a high level meeting on Wednesday along with party MLAs officials in the State capital said: "The stalwart party MLAs including Brishin Patel, Hari Saha and Sahid Ali Khan will take part in the nomination." How safe it is for the party to field a novice (Basundhara) against a satrap like Soren, he replied "Only she is new in politics but every thing is tested—our workers, this constituency and people who will decide the matter. Certainly public sentiments are in our favour."

Tamar no cakewalk for Soren or Vasundhara

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The Assembly by-election of Tamar would throw a tough challenge for the contenders where JMM chief and Chief Minister Jharkhand Shibu Soren is likely to be pitted against Vasundhara Munda, widow of slain JD (U) MLA Ramesh Singh Munda.

Vasundhara will file her nomination on December 10. It is likely Soren might file his nomination on December 12, party sources said.

The task facing Soren would be to arrest the sympathy wave in favour of the widow of the slain leader which the JD-U leadership claims would work in their favour. On the other hand the presence of Raja Peter of Jharkhand Party, who lost the last Assembly election in Tamar by a thin margin, is enough to cause consternation in the UPA and the NDA folds.

Peter is again in the electoral fray and the survey indicates he could prove a political migraine for the NDA and the UPA. He is likely to cause more harm to Soren. Well-placed sources in the UPA indicated that efforts were on so that Peter withdraws his nomination in favour of Soren.

Even JMM sources have accepted this fact and counted it as one of the possible reason behind Soren developing cold feet whenever Tamar figured in the poll discourse of the UPA and the JMM.

The Tamar by-election would be a triangular contest and the division of the vote would be sharp.

However the result of the last Assembly elections of Tamar favoured the JD (U) _ the slain MLA Munda had defeated Raja Peter. As a Samata Party candidate Munda had given a crushing defeat to Congress contestant Kalicharan Munda by a margin of 19,029 votes in the 2000 Assembly election.

If the poll statistics of the last two Assembly elections of Tamar are taken together the average poll percentage in the Assembly election 2000 was 53.24 that was a few notches down in the last Assembly election 2005.

Munda was not able to maintain the whooping margin against his contender Raja Peter.

Ready to ride on the sympathy wave JD (U) is trying to encash the popularity of Munda and hope the combined campaigning of the NDA parties would provide a strong ground to Vasundhara.

"I am in politics to fulfill the wishes of my husband and the aspirations of the people of Tamar constituency. I do not believe in rivalry and will ask people to vote for me and my party", Vasundhara said while talking to The Pioneer.

Knowing well that the man on the other hand is none other than the serving Chief Minister of the State, the JD (U) plans to press top party leaders into electioneering. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD (U) national president Sharad Yadav and scores of party leaders from Bihar would camp in Tamar, the sources said.

Naxal chatters state caught napping

Intelligence hints at security threat and flow of Naxals

Rajiv/ Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, December 8, 2008


The latest intelligence inputs about the forthcoming Assembly by-election of Tamar are enough to give sleepless nights to the State Government and the political parties.

It is serious due to the fact that Chief Minister Shibu Soren is finally learnt to have decided to contest the election from Tamar. The State Congress in a press communiqué said that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had agreed to nominate Soren as the UPA candidate.

Authoritative sources within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) said: "The UPA will hold a meeting on Wednesday at the residence of deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi to make an official declaration about his candidature.

The intelligence sources said that Peoples Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), which has been conducting its one week long anti-Government exercise from December 2 to December 8 might target the political leaders of the national parties. The clandestine exercises include killing of senior police officials, loot of police arms and many such subversive acts, the sources cautioned.

The intelligence sources said that the leaders including that of the national parties besides JD (U) candidate from Tamar Vasundhara Munda, AJSU president Sudesh Mahto and the candidate of Jharkhand Party Raja Peter. Naxal groups are learnt to have formed election-monitoring committees to feel the electoral pulse of the voters.

The intelligence agencies have showed concern over the frequent movement of the candidates in Tamar without any security cover. Meanwhile, the Home department is learnt to have directed the district administration to hold meeting with the political parties and the candidates to discuss the security threat.

The well-placed sources in the district administration said that meeting could be conducted after December 15.Declaring the whole area as sensitive, intelligence missive indicated that the Naxal groups could perpetrate violence and cautioned that the group needed to be neutralised.

The source dropped hint of thick concentration of Naxal activists that includes some of the top ranking Naxal leaders. However, after the declaration of the candidature of Soren the State police would take enough security measures to thwart any Naxal plots.

Tamar or Jamtara: Soren caught between devil and deep sea

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Sunday, December 7, 2008

Sitting in his party office in the State capital on Saturday, Chief Minister Shibu Soren said: “Both Tamar and Jamtara are my option from where I can contest the election to enter the State Assembly. I will announce my decision any time.”


But sources close to Soren said that it might be his wish to contest election from Jamtara where he is more confident about his victory, but it would be his compulsion to contest from Tamar which he still does not like.

It was for the first time when Soren officially admitted it and tried to clear the mist over his candidature.

But in another way he left his UPA partners to guess about his future move. There was more confusion over his candidature after suspended BJP MLA from Jamtara, Vishnu Bhaiya while offering his seat to Soren handed over his resignation to him on Friday.

Meanwhile in a late evening development Bhaiya is learnt to have met Soren and discussed about his candidature. Bhaiya is still trying to impress upon Soren that Jamtara was a more safe seat for him rather than Tamar.

Soren has been under pressure within the UPA fold to contest the by-election election from Tamar. Trying to reason with him the UPA leadership said to Soren that even when he decided to contest from Jamtara it would take a long time for the notification to be issued by the

Election Commission for conducting by-election in Jamtara.

Soren is learnt to be left with no choice but to test his electoral luck from Tamar as the Congress is in no mood to leave its claim over Jamtara where it lost the last Assembly election by a thin margin.

Confusion in UPA as Vishnu Bhaiya resigns


Vijay Deo Jha RanchiSaturday, December 6, 2008


Speculation over the possible candidature of Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren whether he would contest from Tamar Assembly constituency or go for Jamtara; has become more interesting but more confounded after suspended BJP MLA from Jamtara, Vishnu Bhaiya handed over the copy of his resignation to Soren (not the Speaker) on Friday evening. He submitted the letter after the return of Soren from Godda.

"I am ready to vacate my seat so that Guruji can fight election from here.So I have submitted my resignation to him (Soren). He can forward this copy to the Speaker of the House whenever he wants", Bhaiya said while talking to The Pioneer.

Narrating the details that transpired between Soren and Bhaiya, well-placed sources said that the Chief Minister discussed some of his internal political compulsions with him. "Tamar or no Tamar was the theme of the meeting", sources said.

Even as State Congress president Pradeep Balmucchu was saying at a Press conference that the UPA unity decided to support Soren's candidature for Tamar assembly constituency; Soren was discussing his possible electoral strategy with Bhaiya.

Is this yet another move of Soren to keep his own UPA fold in confusion that has been exerting pressure upon him to contest election from Tamar instead Jamtara from where he wants to contest.

"We will see this", was the short and brief reaction from the side of the Congress. But the move has placed the UPA fold in confusion. Stating cautiously the spokesperson of the State Congress, Alok Kumar Dubey said: "The party and the UPA offered unequivocal support to Soren if he agreed to become the UPA candidate from Tamar…but we will take a further stand once the resignation of Bhaiya is accepted."

The undertone of the statement was the Congress would not like to gift away Jamtara constituency to Soren as the party lost the last election by a thin margin.

Technically speaking Bhaiya should have submitted his resignation to the Speaker of the State Assembly Alamgir Alam which he did not. Bhaiya on this said: "I have no grievances with the people of my constituency who responded faith in me by electing me from here."

Coming with a new political coinage Bhaiya said: "Santhal Pargana has been sulking on the margin and it is less developed…for the first time in the history of Jharkhand a true leader of Jharkhand who is from Santhal Pargana has come to take rein of the state. I submitted my resignation for this cause."


Stating further the MLA said that he was not leaving this seat for the Congress which was one of the reasons that he had submitted my resignation to Soren instead of the Speaker and he was now free to use it and there was no politics involved in it.

This is Indian crying Moshe

Mumbai mayhem provokes anti-politician SMS wave


Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Friday, December 5, 2008





Now enough is enough! We do not need these buffoons (leaders) to run our country, let’s thank our brave jawans who have saved our lives and stopped our country from becoming an inferno”.



The fight between the ‘Civil India and Political India’ has taken route of SMS after Mumbai mayhem-- the miffed voices can be heard not only on the street, lanes and by-lanes of all over country but Jharkhand shares similar sentiments where people are getting such SMS with request to forward them to others.


While the political class has taken exception to continuous pitbull’s aggression against them by the so-called perfume and lipstick bearing class but it is hard for them to resist a common man’s SMS - “You can put a lipstick on a pig, it is still a pig.”


A good number of people said to have received such SMS from some anonymous senders and from their friends. The content of the messages are full of praise for soldiers for protecting the people and equal scorn for politicians.



Such messages started flowing a day after Mumbai carnage with a pointed attack on the politicians. These SMSes have become one of the ways to express solidarity and determination of the civil society to fight terrorism with the help of brave soldiers “because politicians have played possum with our life” says a running text of an SMS received by Ragini Singh of Lalpur.


These heated and tongue in chick SMSes are continuing to roast political class and party in general and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Shivraj patil, RR Patil, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Kerla Chief Minister Achuthanandan in particular for their casual approach and colloquial expressions like ‘dog’ remarks.


Loosing two of its people in Mumbai carnage; Ranchi has the reason to be anguished over the inept handling of the internal security of the country people in Ranchi drip with glee when they receive SMS telling story about politicians facing humiliation at the hand of the family of martyrs. It is the part of citizens’ movement against politicians that exploded and snowballed into a major challenge for the politicians.

Here people have been receiving such SMSs searching for MNS Chief, Raj Thackeray: “Plz. forward Raj Thackeray’s phone no if U find it. Don’t know where he is when U need him. We want him to save amchi Mumbai along with MNS goondas. “THE” son of soil. Army, NSG commandos are not Marathi Manoos…why should they lay their life for Mumbaikars…”


“I received an SMS by an anonymous sender-’for the first time, I am not proud to be Indian.’ I did not know the sender but I respected his sentiment by forwarding this text message to my father”, said Rashmi Priya a school going girl.


A recent edition in this SMS campaign is the multimedia message- the grieving Moshe Holtzberge, the two-year old orphan who lost his parents in the Nariman House attack.


One such message had drawn crowds on the streets of Colaba in Mumbai to pay homage to the martyred NSG jawans and security personals. In Ranchi another such SMS flashed on the mobile screen: “Let’s get together and show solidarity n support 4 innocent lives n in hope dat this gets over for ever plz. put a candle in their memory.”


The surge of humanity could be seen with candle in their hand in Ranchi with their lips mumbling in the prayer of the innocent lives and chest blew up for the valour of the security personals.

Where is UPA Steering Committee in Jharkhand, leaders search answer

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Wednesday, December 3, 2008


After the exit of Madhu Koda and successive installation of the JMM chief, Shibu Soren as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, the UPA Steering Committee is lying defunct with the two major questions still waiting for a suitable reply- who is the Chairperson of the committee and who actually holds the key to it.


However Koda who was forced to make way for Soren in the month of August was designated as its chairperson but no official version or notification have come so far.

After persuading Koda to step down as the Chief Minister with a promise that he would be made the chairperson of the steering committee the central UPA leaders have forgotten the promise once Soren became the Chief Minister. Sources close to Koda said that the former wanted a notification by the chief minister in this regard. Koda also wants to emulate Sonia Gandhi who also co ordinates with the cabinet ministers, sources said.

But who will issue notification in this regard, the UPA leadership seems be fudging over the issue. Accepting that the committee should have been formed by this time, the deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi said: "It is up to the central UPA high command or the UPA in-charge of the state who can 'probably' issue such notification." However, the UPA allies decided in their meeting to anoint Koda as the chairperson, Marandi added.

Not Koda alone even some of the (former) members of the committee are confused whether they were still the member of the committee.

Talking about this, one of the members of the committee and Congress MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat said: "We have not been informed about our locus standi in the committee. Neither any notification in this regard has been issued so far nor has any meeting of the committee been convened to take stock of the performance and the achievement of the government." Annapurna Devi, the RJD MLA expressed the same: "I do not know where steering committee is? And also I can not say that I am still its member."

It should be noted that the Congress agreed to extend support to Soren on two conditions- the government would follow the common minimum programme of the UPA and secondly the UPA steering committee would work as a supreme body to supervise the functioning and implementation of the projects by the government. "The condition is yet to be fulfilled", said a senior Congress leader.

The Rastriya Janta Dal (RJD) has demanded the steering committee must be reconstituted in the state. RJD president Gautamsagar Rana blamed that the committee has been rendered useless.

Even Soren who officiated as the chairperson before he was sworn in as the chief minister is learnt not in the mood to pass rein to Koda fearing that the latter who is still nourishing wound might use the leverage to put his government on tenterhooks

After the swearing in ceremony of Soren the UPA convened two such meetings which were marked with conspicuous absence of Koda. Now it is Soren who chairs such meetings and not Koda.

His absence became more glaring during 8th Statehood Foundation Day of Jharkhand on November 15. Although his name figured prominently as the chairperson of the UPA in the invitation card meant for the programme.

Now Koda is left to repeat the word his predecessor Soren who once fumed for not being accorded importance as the chairperson of steering committee:

"I am a blind and helpless watchman of the government without any power."