Campaign for Tamar by- election ends with ring tones of discontent

Soren wary as voters are silent: Tough fight ahead

Vijay Deo Jha reports from Tamar

It was infinitely closer to the theatre of political war in Tamar. Campaigning with rallies, street shows which got louder over megaphone; for the by-election finally winded down on Saturday, with ring tones of discords and promises where candidates those claiming to be in the fray, spoke with competing clamor about their agenda for the development and pooh-poohed the claims of others in a ‘political parlance’ well accepted in the politics of Jharkhand.

But for most of the people and politicians; voters are still confused about their choice while some of them will tell you: “No voters are cunning and intelligent and they know whom to vote.” The answer is quite confusing enough to send warning signal across the election offices of the party.

But their silence could be due to some other reasons also—the sub-jonal committee of the People’s Liberation Front of India, a Maoist outfit has issued farman to the heads of village of Tamar to cast their vote the Chief Minister Shibu Soren who is contesting as the UPA candidate.

The BJP leader Arjun Munda in his press note has blamed Soren for terrorizing the voters and the opposition parties by seeking support of underground naxals to win the election.

The two dominant vote banks in Tamar: Mahto and Munda community which are fairly around 50 and 75 thousands in the electoral roll are still silent. AJSU has been targeting Mahto vote which could possibly see a division among the AJSU, the JD (U) and the JMM.

There is no apparent polarity of the voters in the favour of any particular candidate or the party—Soren, Raja Peter of Jharkhand Party, Vasundhara Munda of JD (U) or Vijay Singh Manki of AJSU.

But Peter is still in fray and Soren must be wary to the fact that his status as a Chief Minister and his ‘chant of development mantra’ might not prevail upon Peter’s carefully crafted image as a man having his roots in the soil.

But at this moment the electorates merely felt a sense of relief at the winding down of what has been a thriller sort of campaign where Soren is contesting as an avant-garde of development but sadly pitted against Peter who claimed would prove the Rajnarayan for Soren.

Campaign-end is usually a raucous and frantic hour and so was in Tamar that witnessed a final rush of candidates, the top national leaders and the party workers for a last time attempt to convince the voters with tag—‘I am the best’. Canvassing here ended not just as it had begun — in a whimper but with a bang. Campaign ended at different places in Tamar—the JD (U) candidate Vasundhara Munda preferred Bhuiyadih, the extreme eastern part of Tamar where the boundary of this constituency ends.

Here was a motley crowd not more than 200 in numbers waiting for Sarad Yadav, the national president of the JD (U) to start his speech. Yadav cursed Soren for fighting against a widow who lost her husband at the hand of Maoists. He claims his party always favoured tribals and downtrodden in its political scheme of things.

Yadav who still claims to be a socialist also advised naxals to join the main stream of politics rather to seek justice and power through bullet—a rejection of popular Maoist ideology. The engrossed throng hears him claiming how he persuaded Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachand, the Prime Minister of Nepal and Maoist chief, to join the main stream politics.

Commenting over the call for poll boycott given by Maoists Yadav asks them to take a leaf out of the book recently held Kashmir election and said: “See what happened in Kashmir…people defied poll boycott given by separatists.”

However Yadav before travelling to the rugged terrain of Tamar and addressing the rally here had an advice for Soren, on Saturday morning, when he asked him to join Maoist groups if he indeed loved them to call his brothers and sisters.

“I have known this man (Soren) from the last many years, I helped him a lot…but he is not trustworthy at all”, Yadav remarks about Soren. He further pokes fun he sums up Soren as a man who virtually lost his political sense. The listeners found it interesting when Yadav attacked Soren with earthy puns “Iske kuch bhi samajh me nahi aata hai, ye bekar ho gaya hai ab ye Tamar me bikas ki Bahar lane ki baat kar raha hai (He does not understand anything, he has become redundant, now he claims to bring carry the wave of development in Tamar.)

“He never visited Tamar before the election neither his party JMM has any support base…only state officials can ensure his victory otherwise he has no taker here”, Yadav takes a dig him.The other JD (U) leaders such as MLA Radhakrishna Kishore, Brisin Patel the Education Minister of Bihar government also sought votes for Munda. “Yes, your vote can change the fortune of Jharkhand”, Kishore exhorts the throng and hydra of hands are raised upward in the support.

But Soren appeared un-phased in his campaign and continued to repeat what he said one the first day of his campaign—his agenda for development. His meeting gathered as much crowd which his JD (U) counterpart Yadav could not net in.

“He held six meetings on the closing day”, said one of his close aides. Soren mingled with the cheered crowd at Pundigiri at Arki block. Village Virbanki was his next stop where Soren reminded the voters of his commitments towards development. “I know that Tamar is not developed and it my duty to bring development, I promise development and you promise me vote”, Soren adds.

His cavalcade follows to catch him at Amlesha and than Kota and than Bundu where he ended his campaign along with his party leaders and cabinet colleagues Bandhu Tirkey and Sudhir Mahto.

My government is providing food grains at lower prices…every thing would come including Indira Awas and BPL card for poor people. The canal of Tamar would gush with water soon I am elected from here”, Soren promises. The explanation of the following is left upon Sudhir Mahto who explains people and media person about the agenda of development as Soren has been stating.

And even there, there were loose clusters to hear them out, no more. Neither of the chief contenders for power bothered — rather dared — to come anywhere closer to remote villages of Tamar unofficially under the control of Maoist.

It was left for yesterday’s genie and the gentleman of the day Peter who rather preferred to mix with the people with whom he claimed to have an affinity. “I am least worried about the result I will continue to work for the people no matter even if I loose the election”, he said while campaigning at Raidih.

It’s a faraway war that the state capital Ranchi is hotting up over; Tamar is gearing for its own.

65th birthday gift brings down Soren

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, January 12, 2009 Front page

The high-voltage political drama over much-speculated resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren seems to have come to the conclusion after Soren announced his intention to resign from the post of the Chief Minister on Monday. He is expected to resign early in the day, with a condition that there is no compromise on Champai Soren getting the Chief Minister's post.

On Sunday, Soren celebrated his 65th birthday but his fortune had something else as his birthday gift --- his resignation from the Chief Minister's post. His political size was already shortened after his defeat in Tamar by-election and his very late decision to resign did not compensate to it.

"After consulting my party workers and MLAs, I decided to tender my resignation. But at the same time I want to make it clear that the JMM would not compromise on the name of the next Chief Minister - Champai Soren - as decided by the Central Executive Committee of the party," Soren said this while addressing a Press conference at his residence, on Saturday.

Soren's UPA partners might find it an occasion to celebrate and flash victory sign but Soren dropped thick hint of political uncertainty and deadlock Jharkhand could be facing if other UPA parties did not agree to that name. It means the State would go under the President's Rule.

Soren, who was all set to fly to New Delhi on Sunday to get the name of Champai Soren approved by the central leaders of the UPA suddenly dropped his plan and decided to remain in Ranchi and consult among his party MLAs after deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi threw gauntlet on Soren in a late night Press conference on Saturday asking Soren be dignified and step down from his post.

Meanwhile, disgruntled Sudhir Mahato is reported to have left for Delhi on Sunday evening. Soren called the meeting of the UPA leadership at his official residence in the evening. The meeting marked the total aversion of the UPA allies (minus JMM) towards Soren and continued lame plea to stay in power - none of the Congress, the RJD and the independent MLAs turned in the meeting.

For his solace, suspended BJP MLA Vishnu Prasad Bhaiya, who offered his resignation from Jamtara Assembly constituency to make way for Soren could be seen at CM House and the rest of the place was occupied by the media.

Battle of words continued on Sunday when Marandi and other independent ministers served demarche on Soren either to resign by this Saturday night or face nightmare. The group headed by the erstwhile Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who boycotted the meeting of the called by Soren, said that Soren had no locus standi to call any such meeting as he was not the chairperson of Jharkhand UPA Steering Committee.

The sources close to Soren said that he was likely to submit his resignation to the Governor of the state Syed Sibte Razi on Saturday evening. But the authoritative sources within the Governor's secretariat said that Soren did ask for any appointment to meet the Governor.

"As you media people are running on speculation we have the same condition here…the news channels have been flashing the breakings that Soren had an appointment with the Governor but this is not the fact," a senior official of the Governor's secretariat said this.

It largely turned a rumour as the sources in the Chief Minister's House confirmed later on that Soren had no such appointment with the Governor. If the top JMM sources are to be believed, the Central UPA leaders were apprised of the decision of the JMM which decided to elect Champai. But the central leadership categorically asked Soren to step down.

Search for next Jharkhand CM on

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Saturday, January 10, 2009 Front Page

The political story of Jharkhand of the day opens with defeated Chief Minister Shibu Soren with another erstwhile Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who barely three months back was forced to make way for the former, along with their common Cabinet colleague Bandhu Tirkey camping in New Delhi to find a new Chief Minister for the State.

Soren's short lease on power was rudely snatched away by voters of Tamar. Now, three days later, the once-hallowed house of the Soren has suddenly appears to be fighting an even longer banishment from Jharkhand political centre-stage.

With each passing day, this story turns juicier - political parties add the spices of its taste - confusing but interesting, after all. On Friday evening Soren met in-charge of Jharkhand Congress Ajay Maken and discussed the way to short out the politico-constitutional deadlock of Jharkhand - a bonus that the voters of Tamar gave besides the stunning defeat of Soren.

Soren now deferred the matter and left the JMM to decide its meeting of the Central working committee scheduled to be held on Saturday. Both Soren and the UPA are left with no alternatives to replace him as the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, the Central and State leadership of the Congress is not willing to keep Soren at the helm of affairs any longer.

RJD Supreme Lalu Prasad wants Madhu Koda to take the rein but it is not accepted to Soren. Soren proposed the name of his Cabinet colleague Bandhu Tirkey but no consensus emerged as the RJD and the Congress have expressed their unwillingness towards him.

On Friday, it was the turn of the suspended BJP MLA Vishnu Prasad Bhaiya, now loyal to the JMM to present another amusing political recipe. The MLA who resigned as the MLA of Jamtara urged this crestfallen leader to contest from Jamtara and be the Chief Minister again. However, there was no taker of his offer when he submitted resignation letter to Soren (not to the Speaker) a month back with a piece of advise "do not trust Congress, do not go to Tamar; Jamtara is politically safe for you". "I have asked Guruji (Soren) to contest election from Jamtara and be the Chief Minister again and he assured me not to commit the mistake (expletive deleted). Let him return from Delhi and the matter would be finalized." There is all likelihood that the JMM central working committee might ask Shibu Soren to try his luck from Jamtara. Constitutionality and morality do not matter, it is politics.

Sitting in New Delhi it is time for Chief of Jharkhand Vikash Morcha Babulal Marandi to add his own potion of spice in form of constitutionality and morality in the politics.

"I will not hesitate from contesting from Jamtara if Soren continues to defile the politics and tries to stick to the power by contesting another elections just to remain in power …I do not rule out this possibility. The way politicians like Soren are becoming immoral in politics especially in Jharkhand I can't shun away from my responsibility," Marandi said this during a telephonic conversation with this correspondent.

While in Jharkhand Bhawan in New Delhi, Madhu Koda was quoted as saying on Friday "hamare paas sare MLA ka support hai or hum phir sarkar banane ki bat kar sakte hai. (We have the support of MLAs and we? can talk about the formation of the Government again.)

This is not that typical 'We' of the Hindu right wing - rather during his interaction with the media Koda referred we as himself and dropped enough hint that he nourished the ambition to take rein as the seventh Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Memories of the ignominious ouster of 2008 perhaps haunts the young Koda enough to keep him tethered to caution as he still not ready to open his strategy.

Backed by RJD supreme Lalu Prasad, Koda hopes that there could be no reason that could prevent him from becoming the Chief Minister. The Congress source added that the party would have no problem with Koda because he was more accessible for the Congress and its State in-charge Ajay Maken.

"We don't want 'President Rule' in the State, there should be a new Chief Minister and Soren must resign and even the Congress in-charge have asked them to short out the issue of Chief Minister ship otherwise the state would have to go under President Rule," said a senior Congress leader.

But for Soren problem is numerous and more daunting than Tamar. Soren have already made his intention known to resign, but leaving sufficient space for speculation, 'when'. Now he is in search for a faithful face within the JMM to take rein of the State. But the majority of the JMM would not like the idea of a non-tribal Chief Minister or a Chief Minister other than the JMM. "We are 17 in number in the Assembly and we can't be wished away as such. The party is clear cut in its opinion", JMM chief whip Mathura Prasad Mahto said.

The JMM insiders confided that a senior most tribal MLA of the party should be preferred for this job hinting at the Agriculture Minister Nalin Soren has emerged as a rallying point to replace Soren.

Buttressing the claim of Nalin Soren, the JMM sources said besides being a tribal he has administrative acumen to run the State as well as he has been a trusted lieutenant of Soren.

Curtain has not been raised over this political drama; till this report was filed the actors behind the stage were busy giving last shape to their political make-up and dialogues-both in New Delhi and Jharkhand.

The giant killer

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Friday, January 9, 2009 National front page

He's virtually become the king of all he surveys. Raja Peter is the cynosure of all eyes today; it's really tough to ignore this man. A sea of humanity could be seen vying to touch this man, who created a history of sorts by defeating the stalwart of Jharkhand politics.

A former engineer in Tata Steel who followed the route of a rebel, the journey of this man from Gopal Krishna Patar to Raja Peter and then Peter Bhaiya can be a source of inspiration for many.

The youngest son of late Chetramohan Patar of village Kamarappa, Peter entered politics in 2003 and contested against Ramesh Singh Munda in the Tamar Assembly election in 2005, when he lost by a thin margin of 5,000 votes. He had a brief stint with the Congress in 2007, but soon left the party and joined the Jharkhand Party of Ainosh Ekka.

Following the footprints of his father, Peter has devoted his life in social service and is popular among the poor and the destitute as a native version of Robin Hood. He came to limelight when he held a padyatra in 2007 from Ulihatu to the Governor's House for 21 points, demanding the revival of the defunct Kanchi river irrigation project and Raisa river project, among other things.

His two brothers are well settled while his two sisters are lecturers in colleges. His wife Arti Devi is also running an NGO, Sanjivini Gram Trust, to help the poor.

BJP takes battle to Guv House

BJP calls Jharkhand bandh against police brutality

Vijay Deo Jha February 13, 2009 (National Front Page)
Ranchi

This could have been the hottest dateline at home today—thousands of the BJP workers led by the national vice president Yaswant Sinha and the leader of the opposition Arjun Munda and others revealed a surprise by breaking the high security arrangements of the Governor’s House.
In the ledger of the law-keepers, the day might be described as more or less peaceful barring a few injury cases and minor scuffle.

But the party vice president Dineshanand claims that during their struggle nearly 55 workers suffered injury at the hand of the police forces and a good number of them were sent to the hospital. The injured included Sinha, Munda, Saryu Rai, Dinesh Sarangi, the state Goswami, besides a score of party workers—Lajpatirai Birmani, Devendra Singh, Satish Singh, Rahul Pandey and Yogesh Malhotra who suffered injury. Later on the leaders were brought to Governor’s House dispensary for treatment.

Sources said that out of 55 injured, 52 party activists were released after first aid while 3 persons — State BJP spokesperson Sanjay Seth with leg fracture; Khokha Singh with multiple injury and Harinarayan Sahni with leg injury — have been admitted into Seva Sadan.

Today’s protest has been the signature tune of the further movement of the party that was explained in a passionate discharge by the party state president Raghuwar Das and leader of the opposition Arjun Munda at a press conference at the party headquarter.

The BJP has called for Jharkhand bandh on Friday, from 6 AM to 3 PM. And the BJP is guaranteeing it will take that cry across the country.

“The party will hold dharna near Parliament House for the dissolution of the State Assembly on February 17 and we will show black flags to governor where ever he goes to attend any public function programme”, Das added.

“What Razi did is worse than the ‘Emergency’…the police forces did not spare the women workers. In the coming days the governor will have a tough time to justify all that happened under his nose”, Munda added.

However it is altogether a different story that arrangements to meet any eventuality were rapidly summoned and put into place. The city DSP Mahesh Ram Paswan and other officials could be seen asking forces and troops to fan across the four gates of the Governor’s House.

Charlie remained on the post but they were unable to stop nearly thousands party workers who took barely 10 minutes to raze down the security cordon erected at Machali Ghar. “The bastion has fallen”, roared Munda and jubilant workers with party flag gushed to the main gate of the Governor’s House with “Jai Shri Ram”. But the BJP had a new war cry in the works here: Sinhashan khali karo janta aa rahi hai.

This so-called victory was soon retaliated by heavy lathi charge and pouring of colour water that left all its top leaders injured and red from head to toe. The Governor’s House thus turned into a virtual battle filed—a fit case of live reporting. But the sources in the Governor’s House told to this correspondent that the security forces were cautioned to maintain restrain even in the case of worse provocation.

Sinha charged governor for police brutality against the party workers. “Nobody is safe in Jharkhand and now onward this governor would also not be safe. We demand his removal and the BJP has counted all the brutalities and would pay in the same coin”.

Sinha indicated that the party would decide its next course of action. We will sit together to decide how to intensify our agitation to save democracy which this governor has stifled.
“Look at the Governor’s House it is crestfallen and governor is under self imposed confinement”, Munda commented where as

The main gate No.1 became the theatre of eyeball to livid eyeball confrontation of the senior party leaders with the security men.

For one hour the senior party leaders—Sinha, Munda, Rakesh Sinha and many others staged demonstration at the main gate of the Governor’s House demanding the dissolution of the State Assembly and the removal of the Governor Syed Sibte Razi.

Both Sinha and Munda were fumed at the police brutality and said: “No body is safe now this governor will also not remain safe. We have counted each injury marked on the body of our workers…we will pay them in the same coin.

On the other post near Kuchary Chawk, not party flag but brick that were in more restless hands of the party workers. It was thrown, and it was returned by the same.

Over to New Delhi, which is where the negotiations, quite really, are: the JMM chief and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren is trying to start negotiation to form next government.

Monster who finished Soren Picture by Mukesh

Lonely standing on boundry line

Soren loses But opts to remain in power game

Vijay Deo Jha/Anupam Rana Tamar/Ranchi Friday, January 9, 2009 National Edition Front Page


The defeat of Chief Minister and UPA candidate Shibu Soren in the Tamar by-election at the hands of Jharkhand Party candidate Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Peter has raised questions about the fate of the UPA Government in the State.

Soren, who got 25,154 votes, lost the election by a margin of 8,973 votes against his rival Peter whereas AJSU candidate Vijay Singh Manki garnered 17,047 votes. The JD (U) candidate -- Vasundhara Munda, the wife of slain JD (U) MLA Ramesh Singh Munda -- slipped to the fourth position. A total of 1,06,910 voters exercised their franchise.

As both Soren and former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda descended in the Capital, the Congress started mulling various alternatives like installing an alternative Chief Minister or going in for President's rule in the State.
The party, which has nine MLAs in the 81-member Assembly, clearly said it would not play a decisive role in choosing the next Chief Minister. The party leaders, however, hinted that Soren would have to go. All India Congress Committee in-charge of Jharkhand Ajay Maken said: "We are not power-hungry. We won't take any lead in forming the next Government. However, if a new Government has to take over, the UPA allies would have to discuss and decide. Technically, the UPA is still in a majority."

Maken said the party was consulting constitutional experts on the situation which had emerged in Jharkhand. He, however, gave broad hints that Soren should step down as it was one of the rarest cases where a sitting Chief Minister had lost an election.

The Congress would not want to be the one to pull the plug. Sources said there was a strong possibility of Soren's wife or son being made the next CM. However, there was also the option of imposing President's rule in the State. A section in the party felt that the Congress had completely lost out in the State.

This section of the Congress had even favoured pulling down the Koda Government last year. However, the party was then counting on Soren's MPs for the trust vote in Parliament. This time round, there is no such compulsion. Senior leaders pointed out that it would be a good opportunity for the Congress to find its feet in the State. If the President's rule is imposed, there would be fresh elections.

A senior leader said: "We know that if Assembly elections take place, we will be in the Opposition. But at least we would be able to carve a separate identity as the main Opposition then. Right now we are living in the shadow of JMM and Koda's mis-governance."

Jharkhand is seen as a State where 'everything goes'. It could well be the only State where independent MLAs can form a Government and many Ministers keep shuttling between the UPA and NDA only to ensure that they continue being in the Cabinet.

But word is doing the rounds as to why Raja Peter, who has emerged as the 'Mahaguru' after defeating the 'Dishom Guru', cannot be appointed the next CM?

Hopefuls plan to keep celebrations low-profile

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Thursday, January 8, 2009

Today is a crucial day in the politics of Jharkhand. Still not able to get a clear picture of polling pattern and promises that sounded good and genuine to electorates of Tamar, political parties have kept their finger crossed knowing well prediction in politics are quite hazardous.

Workers of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Jharkhand Party are reported to be camping on Tau Ground in Bundu, where the electronic voting machines have been kept under the security of the Central Reserve Police Forces.

By January 8 afternoons, the State will come to know who has been chosen to represent Tamar. Camping along with his supporters on the Tau Ground, Peter appeared confident about his victory: "I hope people will favour me…even if bad luck comes to my way, I will win with a margin of 10,000 votes."

Peter said: "If I win the election I would first go to Vasundhara (widow of slain MLA Ramesh Singh Munda) for her blessings and would take out a procession, which will be a low key affair, only after her permission."

The seat became vacant following the assassination of JD(U) MLA Ramesh Singh Munda, who died in the hands of Maoists. "It is not my intention to hurt anybody…any jubilation might offend the sentiment of this lady, who lost her husband," Peter tried to juxtapose humanity and politics in the single frame.

Sources in the JMM said that Soren also wanted to keep it a low profile affair if he won. But his party workers and officials who have made all sorts of arrangements to celebrate the victory.
Their argument seems to be justified. "A large number of JMM workers across Jharkhand have been camping in Tamar and Ranchi for the last one month…how we can stop them from celebration. Procession is one of the ways to thank the voters," said Suprio Bhattacharya, spokesperson JMM.

But Soren would not like it. He was not ready to contest from Tamar against Vasundhara…he was forced to do it. However he cannot stop his clan from celebration.

Election result might bring bloom or gloom for Vasundhara but her pain might revive as it is about to complete six month of the death of her husband and MLA Ramesh Singh Munda. The fate of the widow and the official nominee of JD (U) would be decided on Thursday, a day before the completion of six months of the fateful day.

High turnout in Maoist villages

Vijay Deo Jha Tamar Tuesday, January 6, 2009

It was an election day in Tamar — most sensitive, sensational and engrossing due to several factors. It was not only due to the fact that a Chief Minister was in a razor-edged contest with Raja Peter of Jharkhand Party or Vijay Singh Munda of AJSU and Vasundhara Munda of Janta Dal (U).

Tamar having it a history of naxal violence remained in the centre stage of media report filed from the different dateline; and this by-election too could not escape the attention of the media and fear of the people who apprehended a low turn out of the voters with another worse fear in their mind—the poll would take its toll.

A visit of nearly a dozen of sensitive polling booths and villages situated in the remote and rugged terrain of Tamar with red flags fluttering atop brought surprise. Voters mostly agriculture labourers and illiterates thronged in large number to elect their representative. Even the villagers supported the police forces in nabbing those who were creating nuances at the polling booth. At booth number 209 in Palna village the people helped the police party to nab a JMM activist who was trying to allure the voters with bags.

Interestingly polling passed off peacefully without any hustle-bustle in these villages with high turnout—81 percents in some of the cases.

It would take not less than two hours for a trekker to reach Kandeburu a naxal affected village. A battalion of Central Reserve Police Force has been camping here for the last one month to smoke out the naxal groups for a free and fair election. The village having a scattered population of not more than 1000 who survive on agriculture and odd labour have no menace of communication—road does not exist.

Here defying call for the boycott of the election villagers turned in unexpected number at booth number 235 which has been declared super sensitive. More than 50 percents voters had cast their vote. Sukhlal a 50 years old peasant said: "Ye election hai babu aur jaise khet me kaam karte hai usi tarah vote bhi ek kaam hai." (This is election sir and as we work in the field so voting is also a work for us.)

While the gun trotting alert CRPF personals were moving around the area; the voters were sitting in the queue. It included a large number of women who could show you their voter identity cards.

"They turned very late for the polling" said Bindeswari Upadhyay CRPF head constable. "Initially we thought no body would come for voting… nobody could be seen around the polling booth till 11 AM this morning…but they began trickling in reluctantly after performing their work in the field", he said.

An hour before the closing of the polls a good number of voters had cast their votes with another 200 people waiting outside with poll slips in their hand.

Even CRPF personals had taken initiatives to instill confidence among them to turn out for polling.

Village Basukucha has a different case altogether—no road, no police party come for patrolling and no political party asked them their vote. The villagers share the same lot with the inhabitants of the village Antabera and Jargo.

A local villager Dinesh said: "They (naxal) often criticize election but we decided to vote and hope it would bring road and water for us." At Basukucha there was record turn out of voters 81 percents the officials claimed.

But they cast their vote with cynicism: will this election bring any change for them. While the rest of Tamar is echoing with promises to bring water in the canal these villagers are forced to consume polluted water gushing out of nearby hill. It is not election but water that took toll of many.

Tamar poll peaceful

Soren's fate will be known by Tuesday

Vijay Deo Jha/Anupam Rana Tamar Tuesday, January 6, 2009 (National Front page)

The fate of the Chief Minister and UPA candidate Shibu Soren was finally locked in the chips of the electronic voting machine on Monday in a peaceful Tamar by-poll conducted with mega security arrangements. Now, the mood of the electorate will be revealed on Thursday on the day of counting of votes.

Reports coming from different polling booths indicated that this Monday would be best remembered for a very close hairline contest among Soren, Raja Peter of Jharkhand Party, Vijay Singh Manki of AJSU and Vasundhara Munda of Janta Dal United.

To quote official sources, the turnout staggered at 58 per cent out of 1.58 lakhs voters who exercised their franchise, across 247 booths of the Assembly constituency. "It was a free and fair election without violence barring a few cases of arrest," said Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Arun Ekka.

A fair analysis of the polling pattern of the day suggests Raja Peter has thrown a major challenge before his contenders, specially Soren. He seems to have succeeded in translating his support base into votes every where while Soren found favour mostly among the voters of Tamar and Arki.

The most widely predicted result and probability suggests the most engrossing possibility - a history of defeat or victory with a narrow margin.

Voting started at 7 am and the electorate thronged in large numbers at the polling booths, flashing their voter identity cards and other documents as approved by the Election Commission. However polling remained dull for a couple of hour but it was a temporary phenomenon.

A sudden surge of voters came as a big relief for the party and candidates. The voting gained momentum as evident from the reports. At the booth number 12 situated at Government Middle School, Edalhatu in Bundu block, 315 votes were cast out of 729 within the first four hours. Other polling booths too witnessed brisk and aggressive polling.

Driving along the National Highway 33 from Ranchi to Tamar on Monday morning, through Bundu, Arki, and Tamar one could witness a rainbow of moods, ranging from indifference to festive participation. But more or less the electorate showed their participation many of them bivouacked around polling booths in the mild sun of January while the flow of the river Kanchi and Karkari was markedly quiet.

The day was spared of any major devastation — Tamar turned into a garrison of armed forces who could be seen alert and ready to react in a split second. The EC had made a large security bandobast — 70 companies of forces were pressed in service to stop poll violence and any possible naxal attack. The forces were deployed at the polling booths situated in the remote rural areas. A good number of security forces were deployed along the roadside.

“We have sufficient numbers of forces to carry out the election peacefully, and election here is going on peacefully,” said the patrolling magistrate at Bundu.

If agriculture is their “economic priority” “voting” is their political priority. The rural flock returning from their fields directly went to the polling booths. At Booth no 156 at Punditiri, only four percent polling was registered till 12 am. Lakhu Oraon, a farmer, explained the reason: “It is agriculture season and most of the people working in the filed would come for the poll later.”

Unexpectedly the rural voters were prompt in casting their votes where turn out was not less than 75 per cent. In the polling booth situated at village Basukucha, the total turn out was 81 per cent as the sources informed. The apprehension of Maoist violence proved wrong and apparently Maoists had to eat crow as they could not disturb the polling.

We were at one such polling booth at Kandeburu village, a Maoist-affected area situated some 10 kilometers remote from Bhuiyadih. The voters turned out very late and a large numbers of voters, more than 200 could be seen standing peacefully in queue and waiting for their chance to vote.

Just after the conclusion of the voting, Soren said: “In whatsoever form the mandate comes I will accept it with all grace…but I am sure it will be a mandate in my favour.”

Election is over but Tamar is still reverberating with claims and counter claims of victory.

Clamour for Raja banter for Soren

As Tamar goes to poll, charges spawn rumours

Yarns of stories of backroom maneuvering and vote management as Tamar goes for polls

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, January 5, 2009 (Front Page)

The last eve of Tamar's momentous election was a restless moment for political parties and their candidates. Nobody knows what is in store; but the cold night of Tamar remained hot with speculation and unraveling stories about the backroom manoeuvring to manage booths and voters. This is an election after all.

The cascade of complaints is constantly travelling through wires to the office of the election commission of the gross violation of the model codes of conduct.

"So far more than a dozen of cases have been reported and four FIR registered," said Bundu SDO AK Poddar. But with one observer and 83 micro-observers working round the clock to detect violation cases with their fault finding glasses; the administration has not been not able to ascertain the complaints of distribution of money and the supply of booze to give a good hangover to the voters.

Ghanshyam, as he called himself, a local of Rauladih —situated three and half kilometers away from Bhuiadih — would tell you how the supporters of a candidate have been trying to mould the voters through money and assurance for the job of their family members. Rauladih has 500 voters mostly belonging to Mahto group, dominant in the socio-economic hierarchy of Jharkhand and the most sought after groups of voters to win the election: The candidates would say yes to it without qualm.

Sambhunath working as a private teacher and associated with a voluntary organisation shared the rumour of the supply of money to manage the votes of Rurgi. There are unspecific numbers of reports of the money distributed among the village headmen to ensure voters' turn out in the favour of the JMM candidate.

"I know that half a dozen of the ministers have been alluring the voters with money and tracksuit and a guaranteed job," Raja Peter, the candidate of Jharkhand Party, leveled this specific allegation.

But the JMM promptly rebuffed the allegation stating that Soren did not require such shady deal to win the election.

Peter, who till last day of the campaign, was mostly spotted in the remote area to cement electoral bond with invisible voters surged on the urban space of Tamar and Bundu for a final date with the voters.

He was followed with his supporters mainly youths, and stops at village Rugri, Dumra and Burudih to gauge the mood of voters. "People's mood is against Shibu Soren. And if election is held in a free and fair manner the result would reflect it," Peter said. He also quoted the letter sent by People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a banned outfit, to the village headmen to vote for Soren.

However, for the JMM the allegations are baseless and the party believes that its commitments for development would bear the fruit. For the JMM Soren was unnecessarily hounded, cursed, jeered and projected as a villain for his decision to choose Tamar to test his luck.

Confident that the issue of the development of Tamar will gain favour among the literate classes of the voters the JMM led one such door-to-door campaign at Tamar and Bundu. The bond of caste and the issue of nativity are being invoked, the rhetoric of a political change is battling the plea of development, loyalties are being redrawn afresh, treacheries are being committed, promises unfulfilled are coming to haunt and new promises are being made.

Addressing the party workers to shape the strategy for the poll, Soren made a last appeal to the voters to elect him from Tamar. Soren was quoted as suggesting his party workers to ensure that the election was held peacefully.

As Soren prepares for what is probably the biggest test of his political career, his soft notes for the Maoists and the alleged promises of support he got from PILF will probably ring sardonically true when he lapsed his cool on Sunday afternoon when some of the media persons tried to obtain his reaction over the veracity of the letter. It is in a jarring contrast with a man who has been contesting despite several odds and being lauded even by critics.

JMM curry favour

Two days left for election candidates' last date with voters begin

Vijay Deo Jha Tamar January 3, 2009 (Front page)

By now everybody knows 'that assembly'—Tamar charting it through the lush hilly fields off the Ranchi- Jamshedpur National Highway 33—the epicenter of state politics that has just drifted here and would stay for the next week along with party and politicians.

The countdown of a could-be political tremor has just begun—just two days left—the electorate would trigger off tremor with single push of the button of the electronic voting machine and every beep would confirm to it.

Tamar finally thickened with the raucous and discordant voice—loud and whispering, claiming their victory.

In one such campaigning the Chief Minister and UPA candidate Shibu Soren campaigned at Rugridih and Hararlohar asking voters to just check his life profile of the last 44 years and all that he did for the making of Jharkhand, before they vote.

"Development of Tamar is naturally in my agenda", Soren begins. Amid his speech Soren points out the underdevelopment of the society and assures the development of Tamar was cocksure if he wins.

While his other cabinet colleagues the Bandhu Tirkey, Nalin Soren and the Congress leaders Manoj Yadav were trying to be reason and familiar with the villagers of Haralama and Birbanki in Arki block. His supporter and also the close aide of Soren; Sunil was quick to point out that their leaders campaigned in the remote villages where police forces and politicians dared not to venture. These remote village of Arki are the sanctuary of Maoist.

Apparently satisfied over the response Bandhu Tirkey said: "Guruji yaha se jeetenge ye vikash ka mamla hai ek chief minister jitna vikash laa sakta hai utna aur koi nahi." (Guruji will win here, it is the matter of the development, no other but a chief minister can ensure development.)

But the silence of the electorates are an indicator that none of the claim of politicians has graduated beyond the credibility of nukkargossip where small fry party workers could be seen claiming the victory of their candidate with their earthy knowledge of psephology and caste combination of Tamar.

But the flag bearers of the JMM and the Jharkhand Party mutually claim they are in contest leaving JD (U) candidate Vasundhara Munda wondering where she stood in the fray.

Vasundhara claims of getting support in the area and village such as Reladih, Kansidih Babrandih, Munda Toli, Jatra and such other places of Bundu and Tamar where she campaigned on Friday. While the JD (U) leader and chief minister Bihar Nitish Kumar has already appealed the voters to elect his party candidate party's national president Sarad Yadav would address one such rally at Bhuiadih today, the last day of campaigning.

Her party leader and spokesperson Pramod Mishra claimed that the Munda community recently decided to cast their weight behind Vasundhara.

Once snubbed by Nitish as votekatwaSudesh Kumar Mahto of AJSU who was also labeled as young man who lacked experience in politics by Nitish—Sudesh does not attach too much value to it. He could be seen seeking voters' favour for his party candidate Vijay Singh Manki in Tamar urban area besides Peradih, Sumandih, Janampiri, Sundargarh, Nawadih.

A bitter shunt out from power for Madhu Koda

Insiders spilt blood in Jharkhand politics

Jharkhand politics one step ahead in cloak and dagger and realpolitik

Not Manmohan but Koda govt fell due to nuclear fallout

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Thursday, January 1, 2009

Suddenly shunted out of the power and roundly snubbed by a partner that switched consorts before formal divorce, the erstwhile Chief Minister Madhu Koda must wonder what it is about the strange alchemy of the Congress, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Rashtriya Janata Dal that leaves it singed time after time.

Koda also must be ruing his decision to sew up the numbers behind Manmohan by persuading the JMM supremo Shibu Soren to save the UPA Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from the nuclear fall out of the atomic deal.

August proved politically fatal for him. "I have an interest in the politics of Jharkhand," the short and crisp statement that Soren unfolded political drama in Jharkhand. The drama that continued nearly for a fortnight ended with a tragic political note for Koda.

JMM mentor Shibu Soren rode to office after engaging in pressure politics minus sophistication and Koda rode home basking in the consolation of victim hood. Soren was virtually forced to go this way by his party MP Hemlal Murmu and Teklal Mahto, who nourished the dream to occupy Union Cabinet Berth by pushing Soren to the State politics. But things did not move as thought and planned by the duo MPs: Manmohan was in no mood to give JMM one and half of Cabinet berth as promised.

The BJP which hoped the political cleavage within the Jharkhand UPA would change the political dynamics of State politics in its favour was left to nurse its wound.

What a countless numbers of threats of the Congress and its State in-charge Ajay Maken could not work to dethrone Koda, a single atomic deal did. In Jharkhand's cloak-and dagger-politics it is often hard to separate apparent facts from fiction added a close aide of Koda.

One to remind the carefully crafted New Year's message of Koda for the year 2008 when he claimed the train of development would run in Jharkhand under his premiership with a soft snub to his UPA allies and the NDA as well-they should at least refrain from disturbing his Government.

The claim of Koda was not unfounded who made a sort of history of being the first independent Chief Minister who continued to be in his office despite the unabated attack by the BJP-led NDA alliance as well as the Congress.

April's greatest fools were the leaders of the State Congress who claimed the fall of the Koda Government was inevitable within the month and even staged demonstration against the Government calling it corrupt. But the real humiliation befell on Maken - Koda turned his wiles to woe with the blessing of RJD boss Lalu Prasad.

A stunned Maken, who had neither power nor glory to gain from his efforts, had little to say. "Sorry but I have nothing to say." Same was the case with the NDA which failed to bring any political curse for Koda despite a countless number of agitations.

However, during the whole scenario the independent MLAs kept the master key to the power finding no qualm in switching their loyalty as matter of realpolitik. Specially, the Congress had to eat humble pie whenever it demanded Koda to remove the tainted ministers and independent MLAs from the cabinet.

But stars started ditching them at the end of the year when the Congress forced Soren to kick out the Rural Development Minister Ainosh Ekka and the Urban Development Minister Harinarayan Roy from the cabinet on the charge of corruption.

It was a good decision by default which Soren took only after Ainosh Ekka refused to withdraw Raja Peter as his party candidate from the election in his support. But it was not Soren under the command of things when he announced the decision to sack the duo: the credit directly goes to the Congress which wanted the head of the duo.

The proverbial Damoclean sword has been hanging on the head of these independent MLAs - Kamlesh Kumar Singh, Ainosh Ekka, Harinarayan Roy etc - who are facing cases of disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. Speaker Alamgir Alam hinted the decision would come. The five suspended BJP MLAs are also facing disqualification charges.
The Congress insiders said that the party was working on a fine strategy to disqualify these independent MLAs who on several occasion challenged the grand old party and virtually left it sulking on the political margin; forlorn.

But for Soren trouble appeared a month after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on August 28. Currently contesting by-election from Tamar, the election result would decide not only the survival of his Government but also his future. Soren who did not want to contest election from Tamar was forced to contest by his UPA allies.

But the last year brought no cheer for the BJP. Despite a united face in the public, chinks appeared in the BJP. The Assembly by-election of Simaria cast damper on the spirit of the party-the party failed miserably triggering a major debate whether Jharkhand indeed needed a non-tribal chief minister to bring development.

Over all politically Jharkhand failed miserably said senior BJP leader Arjun Munda as it failed to give the State a positive direction. The Morhabadi Ground witnessed nearly a dozen of political rallies and all failed to solve the purpose. The dream of Babulal Marandi to form 'third front' failed but not his party which he claims the only alternative able to put dysfunctional Jharkhand on the road.

The sessions of the Assembly would be best remembered for rancour and lungs power rather than for a positive debate. The cross sections of politicians are still debating over cats and dogs status of Maoist. The debate can be heard in Tamar right now while the story is filed from Ranchi dateline, some 60 kilometers away.

Politics with folded hand

Tamar bypoll: Pouncing big cats and clueless monkeys

Vijay Deo Jha Tamar Monday, December 29, 2008
Bad news and reports of unending violence are seldom strange coming out of Tamar. For long, there has just been the "Naxal problem" to cope with. Now, to add to it, arrived the "Election problem."

A week before when Tamar is slated to vote on January 5, the area has already begun to fill up with would-be claimants of the ballot but those that would hand the mandate are as ever silent in suspicion. People are not so vocal on the development agenda - it is the territory of the candidates to rant about.

What stops them is anybody's guess, though, as they are neither shy nor lack in political awareness. The problem lies somewhere else which nobody wants to discuss.

But there are a few who can still speak about this. "Election?" mumbles 60-year-old Basuki, a native of Nabadih village. "It is not campaigning but management that matters here…nobody wants our vote." And what the management means is a concept well known to villagers of Dulmi, Peraidi, Jaundih and Ulilohar and Arki, Pundiri and some other places where they live under the specter of Naxalite terror.

After a brief pause, Basuki clarifies how election is a problem to them. He quotes the "cats and dog" debate generated out of the statements of the UPA candidate and Chief Minister Shibu Soren. To him, the Naxalites cannot be ignored as a deciding factor. "Nobody wants to be vocal fearing Naxalite backlash at least in the villages where the outlaws have a free access," says Bhuvneswar Kumar, a villager of Nabadih and a free lancer who gained notoriety for his vitriolic pieces in the magazine ‘Kolhan Ki Tezab’. "The cunning monkey in the story of the two cats had the luxury of distributing justice between cats, here we have too many ferocious big cats pouncing and we, quite truly, are clueless monkeys.

For this election they have at least one foregone conclusion -- this time, too, the Naxalites will do their best to scuttle the election and if they do not, the leaders would do their best to influence them to tilt the electoral scales in their favour.
Comments a primary school teacher who did not want his name be disclosed: "Earlier the naxals used to paste red notes to boycott the pole but this time they have not done it…but they are certainly going to send us their farman whom should we vote."

Where lays the development agenda: perhaps in the party manifesto or in the words of the candidates- not in the dry and parched canal which one's used to be the life line of the agro-economy of that area. The canal passing through three constituencies once supplied water from the river Kanchi to the fields situated on its flank is now serving another purpose- a play ground for the village kids and for sometimes a racing ground for wanton school boys who are in no hurry to go their home.

However the supporters of Soren claims water would gush in the canal after the election. "The canal project running worth in crores would soon be revived", said Samta Party candidate Harisingh Munda who withdrew his nomination in favour of Soren. But for Dhneswar Pramanik a school teacher, the politics of canal took its toll on the agricultural prospect of the area- nearly 50 thousands acre of land has turned barren.

Political promises failed to bring electricity in these villages and people would tell you some chilling dark stories of their life sans lights. "There is no life after sun set…we pack in our home fearing a naxal might be lurking in the chaos, about to spring a manic surprise on you", Yasodhar a native of Gurbati village said.

Here in Nabadih the resourceful villagers use solar lamp which they use to lighten their tinny dwelling besides earning money through this by charging five rupees for charging of the mobile sets which are many in numbers. This is a blessing in disguise for them; but how many resourceful people live in the village. Most of them, including doctors, engineers and many more left the village.

Charges @ 6 croes

Soren paid Maoists Rs 6 cr to win Tamar bypoll: Nitish

Vijay Deo Jha Tamar 28 December, 2008

Tamar by-election is a regional election story reported from different datelines ad nauseam, but it refuses to die, or even bore the masses today.

It was witnessed on Saturday when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during an election rally at Nabadih and Bundu charged the Jharkhand Chief Minister and UPA candidate Shibu Soren for wheeling and dealing with the Maoist outfits to ensure his victory.

Soren drew flak from the NDA combine due to his recent pro-Maoist statements. A peeved Soren had justified his pro-Maoist statement in one of the election rallies a day back stating that he was not wrong in asking Maoists to join Government as they were not dogs and cats.
At Bundu Ground, it was the turn of JD (U) MLA Radhakrishna Kishore to pose question to Soren whether late Munda, SDPO Pramod Kumar and those police personnel who lost their lives were indeed dogs and cats. Taking exception at the statements of Soren as objectionable, the president of State JD (U) Jaleswar Mahto quipped: "It might not be surprising if one day Soren indeed handovers police stations and Government offices to Maoists.

Supporting the allegation leveled by his party colleague and the national spokesperson of Janta Dal United (U) Shivanand Tiwari, Nitish said: "Soren has signed a pact with Maoists to ensure his victory in Tamar by paying Rs six crores to them. Tamar by-election is a testing ground of the sharpness of the teeth of the Election Commission."

For this young Chief Minister who took everybody by surprise by unseating the decades’ long regime of the subaltern sahib of Bihar --- Lalu Prasad; the by-election of Tamar could bring a political revolution. "A mere election can decide your fate; it would bring an end to the era of corruption, underdevelopment and state of lawlessness which Soren has allowed," Nitish pointed out.

He appealed the voters to elect JD(U) candidate Vasundhara Munda, the widow of slain party MLA Ramesh Singh Munda, and asked them not to forget the works of development done by the late Munda.

It was another political revelation at Nabadih Ground when Nitish supported Lalan Singh, party president Bihar JD (U), who stated that Soren once tried to allure late Munda to be the Chief Minister of Jharkhand by engineering a split in the NDA, which the latter refused.

This presents the character of late Munda and Soren in contrast who is now trying every unethical trick to win the election, Nitish blasted. "It amazes everybody that what forced Soren to contest Tamar by-election when once he publicly blessed this widow…and now he is opting every trick to woo Maoists and even inviting them to join the Government and take rein of administration.
Here was a Chief Minister who was trying to woo the voters through his meticulously selected words with polished humour and puns. Known through as Susashan Kumar, Nitish tried to underline the development of Bihar within short span of time and drew a parallel with Jharkhand which he said lagged behind in terms of development. The development of Jharkhand became haywire after the exit of the Government led by the National Democratic Alliance.
A mere bus ride from Patna to Ranchi through road route can give you the real feel of the development of Bihar that took place in the last three years. But in Jharkhand the development is in retrograde motion, Nitish said.

No politics between the wickets in Tamar

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Saturday, December 27, 2008

Candidates and leaders contesting and canvassing for Tamar by-election may genuinely use body line campaign against their contenders to win the game.

”This is cricket not election where you suppose to flabbergast the batsman with bodyline bowling”. Amid the screams of “how's that” matched with equal number of people from opposite team howling it as 'foul'; warning is clearly heard during a local cricket tournament at Salgadih where 35-year-old Raghu Patar, the umpire of the match warns the pace battery, named as Bhola. “No politics between the wickets.”

Whereas people and politicians in Tamar are in a twisting brain game to speculate about the winability of the candidate, a good number of youngsters have a busy time organising a small-time 'Sunil Mahto Cricket Tournament.' Nearly 10 teams across the villages of Tamar have been participating. The match is interesting, but spirit is quite friendly.

"We organise such matches every year in the month of December and manage the finance on our own…this time we decided to rechristen it after the name of late Sunil Mahto," said Sudhir, the organiser.

In a stark contrast to the extensive electioneering of the party and candidates in Tamar that still gathers little crowd and clapping by the motley crowd that thronged this sprawling ground is generous to encourage the players on their every fine play. "We are from a nearby village and have come to encourage our team… it is good to watch cricket," said Vinod Ram, a graduate hailing from village Haramlohar.

Since most of the schools are closed for winter vacations and no examinations at hand, youngsters turn out in large numbers to see the tournament. With every four and six, cheer kids would raise cheer slogans and a bunch of clueless sheep grazing nearby would lift its head in astonishment what the whole fuss was about.

While the by-election is at a sniffing distance such cricket matches, teams and players are on the political radar of the candidates as their prospective electoral fodder. The boundary of the ground was dotted with party flags that indicated the political interest of the party to bring them in their catchments area. This is apart from those youths who are paid Rs 500 per day to fill fuel tanks of their motorcycles.

"How many politicians and candidates have approached you for vote so far?” Not very much forthcoming about this, the commentator Dinesh Mahto, who peeps down from the makeshift bamboo platform saying: "So many leaders have come and assured to support us with money and promised to give award to the man of match."

The organisers have announced to give 1000 rupees to the wining team and five hundred to the second winner. But after much prodding a member of the organising committee said: "They promised to give money and other things after the declaration of the result."

But fine bargaining is on. They passed resolution to vote for the candidate who supplies them with cricket kits. Better, intelligent candidates rush to such grounds to tap their voters, as it is a cricket season - apart and unaffected by bodyline campaign.