Old wine in a new bottle: Munda talks about changes
RANCHI | Sunday, September 12, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA | RANCHI

There is perhaps no better person and place to get renewed promises of changes in Jharkhand than the precincts of its most famous address for four years: Old Jail Road, and its occupant Chief Minister Arjun Munda.

Soon after taking oath as the 8th CM of Jharkhand on Saturday; Munda in an exclusive talk with The Pioneer swore to demolish one idea of Jharkhand as the basket case of India, and the crafting of another.

Can Munda make a difference? Past regimes were not different. It was a free territory overran and exploited by people and politicians of all hues — scamsters and scoundrels, sycophants, in-laws and outlaws, a whole court confederacy that first put establishment out of touch with the rooted reality of the State, and then, out of power.

And 10 years down Munda has again become CM of the State: functionality for famed flair, calibre for celebrated corruption and hope for hollow hype.

“So what, Jharkhand will change,” Munda said gazing at a large portrait hung on the wall depicting natural beauty of Jharkhand. He probably wanted to hint it as the central metaphor of his reign.

Q: You had been in State politics before you moved to the national politics and became party’s national general secretary. Great hope was attached to you. And in fact you had shown right sign. Strange! Why did you decide to make a come back?

A: I am a loyal worker of the BJP. My party assigned me this job. I will take any responsibility as deemed fit by the party. I will deliver best of my capabilities.

Q: Is Arjun Munda different today and than the one in the past?

A: As my understanding and experience is concerned as a party worker, i will make an optimum use to this. I promise to remain bias in performing my duty.

Q: Have you worked out your priorities for the State after you took oath as CM?

A: At present priorities are speaking for themselves: drought, law and order. Good rain could have yielded good crops… solving a major trouble. What I think is that the State require infrastructure. Under a long term plan we need to tap and harness the human resource to enable Jharkhand to compete with global economy. Bijli, Pani sarak (BIPASA) are in priority. Projects must be planned in the light of the demographic and geographical conditions of the State.

Q:And what about corruption?

A:This is a big and serious issue…our priority will be to change the system that breeds corruption. But I think it is not the only issue one should keep himself engaged with. People of Jharkhand are forward looking. People are not concerned with corruption only.

Q: But then corruption eats away the vitals of the development?

A: See this is true it has become gangrene. We need to work together.

Q: Don’t you think the institutes like ombudsman are good and effective tools to crush corruption?

A: Yes, I will think and try all these mechanisms. But I do not believe in propaganda. Our commitment to deal with corruption is more important.

Q: Will you ask your Ministers to declare their properties to stop another Madhu Koda, Ainosh Ekka, Harinarayan Rai and Kamlesh Singh in making?

A: I always ask media what is the level of corruption. Let me ask you what is corruption? How we brand somebody as corrupt. Now tell me what media will offer me on this front.

Correspondent: Media will extend you full cooperation.

Munda: No no. It is not only about support. I personally believe that serious issues require serious deliberations. How many times you (media) questioned the logic behind supporting an independent MLA as CM of this State. What should be the criteria? National parties are responsible for the reflection of democracy and democratic system. There is only partial democracy.

Q: What messages CM Arjun Munda will like to send across scamsters, scoundrels and corrupt?

A: Law will take care of them. They will be punished according to their deeds.

Q: And bureaucracy?

A: Be ready for a transparent and functioning administration. Be responsible towards people.

Q: Maoism will be a big challenge for you to deal with.

A: I had had been raising this issue that how this problem has affected people and the States…but I was taken very lightly that time. Jharkhand is not the only State facing this problem. Can a State address this problem by taking isolated effort? You need to form an elaborate national policy. I do not criticise anybody. I will raise right points at right forums.

Q: What about Operation Green Hunt?

A: Don’t ask me all these. Ask this to Indian Government.

Q: Will you also not talk about all those Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) you had signed as CM in the past that gave you a nickname MoU CM, once. Won’t you look back?

A: Will you explain me please what happened all these four years after I stepped out so that I answer you.

Q: Industrial houses sign MoUs only to fast belt minerals and resources and then they pack off. Do you promise a fair and rational Industrial Policy?

A: Yes, there will people’s policy. Industry will automatically come. Policy will be decided while keeping the interest of the people at the centre of the policy formation.

Q: During your first tenure as CM you took your first decision to grant lifelong freebies to former CMs. What will be your first decision this time?

A: “Iss baar media ke liye karenge (This time I will do for media),” Munda laughs.

VIJAY DEO JHA

Teaching a lesson to the pseudo Gandhians
Vijay Deo Jha
Gumla

The story hadn’t occurred to us until; finally, it tormented us for not noticing.

It was like any normal day and time when we accidentally came across 70 years old Rati Tana Bhagat at village Karaundi in Gumla district arguing with the census official that he must be documented as the follower of a religion that many might not have heard, surely.

“Satt Ahimsa Gandhi Baba (truth, non-violence, Gandhi Baba),” this is my religion. Put it in your census record against the column of religion in your register.
Sweating profusely, Rati was gasping for breath probably due chronic asthma but, emphatic enough to make census officer Jitiya Oraon jittery to accommodate his religion on the census chart. Oraon told us that he is a primary school teacher and also president of Gumla Primary Teachers’ Association. Oraon was aware of the passion of Tanas for Mahatma Gandhi but he had no courage to convince them that there exists no column in the census form about the religion they insists to mention.

“I respect your sentiment and attachment for Mahatma Gandhi but there is no such column of religion in the census form,” Oraon makes last effort to find a way out. But by this time it was too late. Oraon had received overdose of mild rebuff hoping he will come to understand that how Tanas had embraced Gandhi’s movement for freedom struggle and Gandhian philosophy sans sophistry.
The old man is in no mood to compromise with his religion. Suddenly around 50 inquisitive Tana Bhagats clad in Khadi after emerging from daily prayer of Gandhi, joined the old man.

They insisted and remained firm till the poor school teacher had duly mentioned them as the follower of Satt Ahimsa Gandhi Baba religion. There may not be too many followers of the religion of this kind, before it insists to qualify officially, as a distinct religion in the Gazette of the government: a mixture of the fine elements of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and many others. But before Oraon can pack-up and proceed they had put their thumb impression so that none could temper with their belief.

True to his name, Budhiman Tana Bhagat talked intelligently about the fast shrinking number of Tana Bhagat in Jharkhand and their problem. What Budhiman told reflected that he had some schooling as he appeared well equipped with the problem of Tanas. “We are tribal…but we follow Gandhiji as religion. There are few pockets in Lohardaga and Gumla where Tanas are now live,” he rued. Bisunpur, Ghaghra, Chnadrkop, Bamandih, Gazani, Kuru and few other he listed. There is no official record available to ascertain their number.

The British government had confiscated 3000 acres of their land as punishment for their unquestioned support for Mahatma. “Our land has not been returned…we are still to be granted cultivation right. Please tell the government about our problem. A year back government had assured us but nothing happened,” Budhiman said. The previous government of Madhu Koda had even announced to return such lands to the Tanas that did not graduate beyond the promise.

They have a long list of complaint but that does not douse their undying passion for Mahatma and his philosophy.
It is census time: Different religious bodies have regrouped to swell their number. For Tanas it was prayer time of Mahatma with clang and cymbal. Let the children of one God demand right of way and privilege over children of another God and let them ram into communal retribution. Tanas are not that.

The Godmothers of Bihar


Bees saal dekh liye fair ko, ab lovely ko dekh lijiye. (You’ve seen ‘fair’ for 20 years, have a look at ‘lovely’ now),” shouts a young Congress party worker into the mike and looks behind for appreciation, grinning at with his own pun. Equally happy is Lovely Anand, Congress candidate for the Allam Nagar constituency, who’s on the dais today in Chausa. The dark sunglasses don’t hide her beaming face. The crowd’s attention, however, is on the sunny sky, from where Bhojpuri matinee idol Ravi Kishen is expected to descend in a helicopter.

In 2007, a lower court sentenced Anand to life for inciting the crowd to lynch G. Krishnaiah, the Gopalganj district magistrate, at gangster Chotan Shukla’s funeral procession. She got bail from the Patna High Court. But her husband, former MP Anand Mohan Singh, is serving a life sentence in Saharsa jail for the case.

In the 1990s, Singh headed a private army which attacked supporters of reservation for the backward castes. His army went unchallenged - till Ranjan Yadav, more notorious as Pappu Yadav, emerged on the scene. It set up a clash of criminal titans and threw north Bihar’s Kosi belt into a civil war. “They clashed often in pitched battles and we reported diligently,” recalls a senior journalist who requests anonymity. They threatened and killed at will. They were Kosi’s terror twins.

Singh’s wife Anand spins her own tale: “He was not a criminal or a don. He’s a victim of a political conspiracy. He was a big fan of Bhagat Singh and Nelson Mandela - and always challenged the political establishment since he was 17.” It sounds like a rehearsed stance, and suppressed smile a giveaway of the version’s absurdness. The posters in Chausa has Anand saying: ‘Kisi ke liye ye matdaan hai; mere liye jeevan-daan hai’ (To some this is an election; for me this is a grant of life). Singh’s mother, too, features on the poster. It’s a desperate plea from the once-dreaded family.


Same coin, other side

It’s a similar story for Singh’s foe Pappu Yadav, who is also serving life in Beur jail. His wife Ranjit Ranjan is Congress’s ‘star contestant’ for the Bihariganj seat.

Ranjan’s was a Kashmiri Pandit family which converted to Sikhism. She represented Bihar in tennis while Pappu had made a name as Lalu Prasad Yadav’s henchman. “A lumpen youngster who had made himself notorious in the Saharsa-Purnea region with acts of wanton violence… He had the physique of a baby elephant and the reputation of a raving, stampeding one,” writes Sankarshan Thakur in Subaltern Saheb: Bihar and the making of Laloo Yadav.

How did she get married to a don? “Those days I used to go on a Hero Majestic cycle for practice at the New Patna Club, where he had seen me. He came home to propose, but my family took its time deciding. It went on for two years… He never misbehaved with me. I judged his character as a woman,” says Ranjan. Stories about how Yadav won over her brother first by gifting him a cricket kit are part of the lore. Wagging tongues also say that her family didn’t have much of a choice, though the wedding was performed according to the Sikh tradition.

Today, she’s the face of Pappu’s empire and wields influence in his name. Between them, the two powerful ‘godmothers’ managed six Congress tickets for their acolytes. But everyone is clear where their power flows from: their posters invariably have their husbands’ faces in the same size. And both of them seek “people’s justice” for their jailed husbands.

Once in rival camps, they were recently spotted on the same dais with Rahul Gandhi. They seem not to share the animosity of their husbands. “She is like sister to me,” says Ranjan.

People of flood-prone Kosi belt are using an apt metaphor for this duo of foes-turned-friends: “During the floods even the snake and the man will travel in the same boat.” But one knows how things may turn once the water recedes.

Courtsey HT

PESA push for BJP but at Sadans’ cost
October 24, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA /VINOD PRASAD | RANCHI / LOHARDAGA

The restive lungs in the BJP will have a sure cause to grab credit in coming days if Panchayat elections are conducted under PESA Act, but at this immediate point it is merely whispering in fear about the degree of collateral damage which is built in the framework of this election.

This collateral damage is widely predicted in the form of simmering anger of Sadans (non-tribal) against the BJP and the core constituents of the party who are not happy with the reservation policy opted under PESA. Even party insiders termed it a matter of great concern since Sadans accounts around 70 per cent of the total population of Jharkhand.

“Irrespective of a party in the government; the state government is duty bound to conduct election under Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Area Act (PESA) following the order of the Supreme Court. It is not a political decision,” a senior party leader in Ranchi said.

Two immediate micro level developments in the past four days went unreported. Around 100 Sadans in Lohardaga district have taken pledge to turn heat upon BJP and party Chief Minister Arjun Munda in the electoral field. The call for this boomed from one of the Muslim dominated villages; Narinawadih under Kisko block.

“We will campaign against Munda for his anti-Sadan stand in the constituency he chooses to fight anywhere in Jharkhand. The legitimate political and constitutional rights of Sadans have been ignored in the framework of Panchayat election,” Kuddus Ansari of Sadan Vikash Parishad. The Parishad has still to emerge as a collective and dominant force to rattle the BJP and Munda.

The second is definitely not the music for the BJP. Party office bearers of Varno block under Gumla district resigned in block from the party post to protest elections under Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Area Act (PESA) which they pleaded as subversive to the interest of Sadans.

Before and after Panchayat elections scheduled were announced the party office this week, has filled with cascade of complaints, suggestions and the damage the party may suffer if due steps are not taken to placate Sadans.

These are attached with due references of dismal election results of party in Sadan dominated areas like Lohardaga, Gumla and others in the past assembly polls. State party seniors will probably sit on coming Tuesday to take on this critical issue and panchayat elections as well.

“A meeting has specially been called on Tuesday in Ranchi to discuss Panchayat polls in Jharkhand and the strategy of the party therein.” Newly appointed state BJP president Dineshananda Goswami said equally attempting to downplay the Verno episode ever mirrors dominant feeling of Sadan party workers.

“As party workers we are supporting Panchayat elections even after majority of seats have been kept reserved for the tribal population even those with zero tribal population. There is no effort; political or otherwise; and Sadans are getting alienated from the BJP,” a senior BJP leader in Lohardaga said. Similar sentiment was echoed by one Gumla BJP leader who said that the complaints of Sadan will get more deep-seated after elections. The Congress is secretly laughing over BJP’s stutter. The Congress has started a whispering campaign against BJP among Sadans. “Which way to counter it we do not know,” a party leader said.

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

Isle of indifference: nobody comes to seek vote
VIJAY DEO JHA in Darbhanga

This report is brought to you from an isle of apathy and indifference. It is election time, and, nobody has come to seek vote here. Who would and why?

It is too difficult for party and candidates since it takes too much time to reach the village Gaijori (a riverine island) situated on the extreme east of Darbhanga under Kuseswarsthan. Surrounded by three rivers, Gaijori is not the single village of its kind which has remained isolated from the rest of the world. There is a long list of such villages: Tilkeswar, Alauli, Ghordaur etc. It is nature’s wish to keep this vast swathe under flood for the rest eight months of the year.

But it is successive state governments that to be blamed for keeping it under perpetual underdevelopment: no road, no electricity and no healthcare even to establish remote connection of such villages with the concept of welfare State.

“No candidate has come to seek our vote, their men have distributed us few banners and pamphlets,” Gopal Yadav a young man of the village said.

This village is essentially Yadav and Mushhar (an extremely backward community) settlement. So they have always been taken copyright property of Lalu Prasad and his party RJD and Ram Vilash Paswan of the LJP. Will they vote if nobody has come to seek it?

“They may come on election day. They can not ignore us. They will ignore us after voting. People have no interest in voting. Votes have not changed our destiny,” Ramkumar Yadav a school teacher complained.

Normally election time offers engagements to youth--unemployed and addict in politics--to consume their plenty time in political gossip, debate and electioneering. Nobody is willing to talk politics if you have come to get their views on Nitish and Lalu.
“Whosoever wins and whosoever is defeated, we are not going to become king nor the fate of our villages is going to be changed,” Gopi Sadai said. The village is flooded with myriads of welfare slogans: Pulse Polio, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, TB Hatao, Hum Do Hamare Do etc. The painters have done their job, anyway and gone.

Till a couple of years back there was only poverty, unemployment and related problems to deal with; naxal problem has suddenly Till an year back there was unemployment, poverty and other such issues to deal with the Naxal problem have suddenly cropped-up. “This area has been turning into a safe heaven for Naxalites who are recruiting unemployed youths,” concerned one. Only a month back police had arrested a self styled dreaded Maoist commander from this village who was accuse of abducting a panchayat head.

“We are passing through a very bad phase. Situation is turning against us. Politics wolitisk se kuch nahi hoga…kaam kaaz nahi milega to yahi sab hoga,” Sakaldeo Yadav the head of Yadav clan rings ironically true.
Soon after a dozen half naked children their ill health mothers gathered that looked like shambled index of human development of the backyard of Bihar.

It takes around eight hours to reach district headquarter Darbhanga situated barely 75 km away which must be very critical for a patient and an expected mother if rushed to the Darbhanga Medical College. “So why such villages and areas are treated as Kala Pani by official posted here,” said a Lady Extension Officer Mamta Kumari having served in this area.

Walls of Raj Darbhanga falling on Lalu

Walls of Raj Darbhanga falling on Lalu
VIJAY DEO JHA
DARBHANGA (North Bihar)

Aloof listeners offered little or no sense of engagement to RJD chief
Lalu Prasad; as if, they are convinced the return of Gwala years is a
close chapter. He fears lantern is flickering to finish; but then,
Lalu like a weatherman announced the wave of RJD-LJP alliance getting
stronger everyday like Katrina.
“Nitish sarkar ankron ki sarkar hai…jhooth ka pulinda hai. Nitish ke
jhooth ke khilaf RJD-LJP ko support mil raha hai.”
Few ran in histrionic sloganeering, ‘Lalooo Zindabad,’ rest remained
indifferent.
It was one of the scenes of election campaign of Lalu in Kuseswarsthan
situated on South-East flank of district Darbhanga; one of the
political laboratories of social justice of Lalu.
Darbhanga — the cradle of Maithils and Maithili, ancient gateway to
Bengal — had supplied critical political support to Lalu all these 20
years. It is in silent mode.
six out of 10 assembly constituencies, (forming the part of Darbhanga
district) the area had obliged this much support to Lalu in the last
Bihar Assembly election when he was receiving knock from the NDA
combine elsewhere in Bihar. Bihar had voted for the NDA: Darbhanga had
voted for Lalu, though.
Will Darbhanga vote for Lalu again? Mahakant Chaudhary, a health
worker in Kuseswarsthan, and, like most Biharis, an inveterate dabbler
in politics, says: “Many things have changed in the last five years,
Nitish Kumar has made serious inroad in Lalu’s MY (Muslim-Yadav)
combination as well as backward community vote. Besides, his
seriousness for development has not gone unnoticed.
There exist pucca roads connecting constituencies to district
headquarter. The very demand which Lalu had denied to poor and
illiterate on the ground that only rich requires roads to ply their
motor-vehicle otherwise buffalos do not need it.

“Now, Lalu has promised to give motorcycle to every student if he wins
and it will roll on the roads laid by NDA government. His promise
rings like a banter. He is not taken seriously even if he expresses
regret over complete lack development during his regime or his wife,”
said Ramkishore Mandal.
Nitish craftily stitched class and caste combination: maha Dalits
(extreme backward classes) and Pasmanda Muslims have rattled the
flanks of Lalu and Paswan. And, in the thick of that combat, the
Congress in a desperate effort to get off the ground.
But then, political battles have always been very intense in
Darbhanga. And Darbhanga have remained trend setter for vast swathe of
Mithilanchal that accounts sizable number of constituencies if won can
alone push and prod party to the power. It helped Lalu a lot, but that
is a paper truism rings hollow all across the region it is not going
to fall into one basket.
Darbhanga parliamentary constituency has always been a moveable feast
— impenetrable citadel of the Congress for decades after Independence,
briefly occupied by Late Surendra Jha Suman of Jansangh. But in post
1990s era it became a vibrant play field of the Mandal revolution,
hosting hardboiled Hindutva alike. But after an intense political
battle Lalu emerged as the lord of Darbhanga.
20 years down the lane things have changed for Lalu, the subaltern
sahib — and more is getting pilled on him. “All these years we blindly
voted for Lalu to keep Congress and communal at bay. But he showed no
intention of development, employment and other basic things which is a
prime responsibility of a government,” says Jamal Quraishi of newly
carved Gaurabauram constituency earlier known as Ghanshyampur
constituency.
Former RJD MLA of this constituency Dr. Mahavir Yadav is in the fray.
It would appear that he will have left with Y factor to yoke, the
majority of M factor have joined sitting MLA Dr Izhar Ahmed who is
contesting as JD (U) candidate after deserting LJP.
Abdul Bari Siddiqui of the RJD is apprehensive in newly carved
Alinagar constituency after delimitation drive shattered his carefully
crafted MY combination and the shape of his previous constituency
Bahera. His best hope lies on the probable division of dominant
Brahmin vote between JD (U) Prabhakar Chaudhary and Madan Mohan Jha of
the Congress.

The greater Mithilanchal will vote on October 21 and 24 respectively
and as the sun set upon the first phase of election campaign; the
concern in RJD-LJP camp has growing thicker. The citadel has not
fallen but its walls have grown weak enough.

A document written in defense of Munda’s government

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

It is going to be too late and too little an exercise. After a month of government formation, Chief Minister Arjun Munda’s core think tank group has come out with documented reply of the Opposition’s charge over government formation exercise as handshake of opportunist political forces.

Presented in the book form ‘Jharkhand Me Lokpriya Sarkar Ka Gathan Media Ki Nazar Me’ comes with succinct forwarding of three key Munda advisors —Harendra Kumar Singh, political advisor Dr Vidyanath Jha ‘Vidit’ and Ayodhyanath Mishra. Rests are the collage of the media reporting over government formation exercise from September 7 to September 15.

Writing prologue for the book, Singh claims that government formation exercise had the backing of the people. “People believe that Munda having enough experience and wisdom will do best for the betterment of the State…government formation exercise was full of challenges and odds but he did it in larger public interest.” Singh mentions challenges ahead for Munda: drought: extremism: migration of people: poverty and unemployment.

Mishra carries on the argument ahead with suave political overture. “Fractured mandate,” he writes, “should be understood in another way. It is a message for the political parties to set the agenda for the development of the state while sinking political differences and boundaries.”

Vidit who now is more focused and preoccupied with academic and literary pursuit as an important functionary of the Sahitya Akademi holds identical view.

“If electing government is people’s concern; formation exercise is the responsibility of the elected representatives. Fractured mandate has an embedded message that political parties have to come together to respect the wishes of the people. President’s Rule or Assembly in suspended animation mode can not be the substitute of the government. Assembly is the right forum to address public issues.”

He ends with stinging note. “Those in the Opposition who have criticised government formation were also in the race to form government.” It is JVM chief Babulal Marandi.

Front page a fine gloss is the child of imagination; born out of perfect mating of imagination with Photoshop. As though, government formation exercise was not less than the epical war of Mahabharat, Munda occupies the main face of the book in guise of Arjun holding Gandiv in the battlefield. JMM chief Shibu Soren resembles to Bhishma Pitamah at first glance due to his snowy long beard. Behold, he is Krishna actually holding wheel in his hand. AJSU chief and Deputy CM Sudesh Kumar Mahto is has been portrayed as Bhim. But Soren’s political heir and deputy CM in the government; Hemant Soren must be grousing for getting no space on the main face. He should turn back face of the book; he can spot himself standing with Munda and Sudesh surrounded by green luster and wild life.
The inside of the book is stuffed with carefully selected clippings of print media reports glorifying ‘Munda’s Master Stroke,’ in forming the government. ‘Munda Ki Har Chal Me Kamal,’ writes one, ‘Hum Na Bolenge Hamara Kaam Bolega,’ ‘Munda becomes CM,’ ‘Munda sets his agenda,’ ‘Munda swings it,’ etc. Catalogue is exhaustive but colourful.

Resisting overdose of panegyric, the compiler has added few reports of conflict within the party and Opposition’s quip. But critical clippings of key and contentious buzz of involvement of industrial houses behind the formation exercise have been omitted. That could have been too much.

MCC letters baffle S&T dept director

Thursday, September 23, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA

Ranchi

An unknown person calling himself a cadre of Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) has been sending threatening letters to senior State officials like Chief Secretary Ashok Singh, Assembly Speaker CP Singh, and whistleblower Madan Yadav, who has filed a corruption case against Science & Technology department director Arun Kumar.

The sender has threatened them of dire consequences if actions were taken against Science & Technology department director Arun Kumar. “If you dare do this, you will be killed within 48 hours,” the letters read.

A fortnight back, Chief Secretary Ashok Singh is believed to have received one such letter.

On Tuesday, Speaker CP Singh received a threatening letter from one Raju Mandal of Sudambudih village of Arki under Ranchi district. Madan Yadav, who has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) to seek a fair probe in the corruption in the Science & Technology department, also received a threatening letter that day. The letters have been sent by the same Raju Mandal, whose identity is yet to be established.

Madan Yadav has been threatened with dire consequences if he does not withdraw his petition against Kumar. “I received the letter on Tuesday. And the person identifying himself as Raju Mandal of the MCC has threatened to kill me if I don’t withdraw case against the director,” he told The Pioneer.

Yadav has lodged a complaint with the Doranda police atation in this regard. However, senior police officials strongly believe there is no involvement of a Maoist cadre behind issuing threatening letters in support of the Science & Technology department director. “There is no named presence or existence of the MCC after its merger in the People’s War Group (PWG),” a senior police official commented. “It is a prank, it is a serious kind of prank that needed to be investigated,” the officer said.

It should be noted that two separate complaints of corruption against Kumar have been filed by Madan Yadav and Shivjee Singh. Speaker CP Singh received the letter after he forwarded the complaint of Shivjee Singh to the Chief Secretary for further action.

However amid an embarrassing support from an unexpected quarter, Science & Technology department director Arun Kumar appeared baffled, quite unable to point out who the man can be. “I do not know who is doing all these. I am not aware of the motive behind the threatening letters. Those who have sent such letters must be a fool,” Dr Arun Kumar told The Pioneer on Tuesday.

Source said that Dr Kumar was summoned by the Chief Secretary on Tuesday evening to probe the matter.

Official source did not rule out it to be a case of internal rivalry in the State bureaucracy. “You cannot rule out that his rivals within the bureaucracy and outside might have been doing all these to keep him in trouble,” a senior police officer said.

“And each time such threatening letters reach people in the power corridor, the corruption charges against Kumar will be refreshed in the public memory,” the official sounded quite logical.

Central leadership picks Goswami as State party chief

Sunday, September 26, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

The Central BJP leadership on Saturday effected a key change in the State BJP; picking party's vice-president Dineshanand Goswami as the next president in a calibrated exercise to strike a synergy between the party and the organisation.

Drafted for a critical and contentious job, as a BJP source said, Goswami was selected for veneer of equidistance with Chief Minister Arjun Munda and outgoing president Raghuwar Das whose differences have embossed the face of the party. Goswami may not display his leaning towards any group and faction; but he is said to be close to Munda.

The post got vacant after Das resigned in January this year, following his induction in the coalition Government led by Shibu Soren. Asked to stay as working president till further arrangements were made, the State BJP had announced to complete the procedure of the appointment of the party president through consensus basis by September 25.

Soon after the announcement Goswami who has been recuperating from leg fracture told The Pioneer that his primary task would be to inject fresh blood in the party organisation.

Goswami used three key words out of his diction; 'consensus', "organisational overhauling" and "expansion of the base of the party" and said he was quite aware of the lurking challenges like factionalism, widening faultline and crumbling index of the party's popularity that has shown a rise in an alarming proportion.

Nevertheless, his selection was greeted with initial whine as both the Chief Minister and party president belong to Jamshedpur.

Even after backroom criticism from a section of the party; Goswami's selection is seen as a great reprieve for Munda. Goswami is in his good books even if he is not a yes man in true spirit. A desperate Munda even lobbied for Dhanbad MP PN Singh, who as the party president in the past got the distinction of being Munda's yesman. Singh's proposed anointment could not graduate beyond the media column. "It could have emitted a wrong signal. We needed a dynamic face who can act as a bridge between the party and the organisation. Goswami is a good choice…he knows the organisation, he has field experience," a senior party leader commented.

But his leadership quality will see a critical test in his hometown Jamshedpur which has turned into a battleground between Das and senior party leader Saryu Rai who are in a war of words to assert their hold on the party organisation. If that requires a proof it can be ascertained from the fact during organisation elections of the party in Jamshedpur. Both factions have been running a parallel organisation and committees in 12 out of 21 blocks. It will be very difficult but a challenging task for him to facilitate détente between two senior leaders.

After Munda's nomination as Chief Minister it was almost certain the post of party president would go to a non-tribal. At one point of time the Central BJP leadership is believed to have decided the name of Sunil Singh for party president. But that process was abandoned after the fall of the Shibu Soren Government. Singh, nevertheless, welcomed the decision and pledged all support to Goswami but remained silent as to why the Central leadership dropped his name. Probably his closeness with Rai proved as the biggest stumbling block. Rai has often been very critical and vocal in criticising his own party and Government.

Goswami's appointment is seen as a long term plan of the party to accommodate different castes and creed in the party fold to increase its base. With CP Singh as Assembly Speaker, Munda as tribal and Goswami as Brahmin leader the Central leadership hopes the combination will work successfully.

But the party cannot ignore the Vaishya community; the mainstay of the party. Nevertheless, Das at the last moment lobbied for reappointment as State president much to the discomfiture of Munda.

Regional imbalances are still to be addressed. There is no representation of Santhal Pargana in the organisation and there has been a greater demand to accommodate party MLA from Santhal Pargana in the Ministry. In a couple of days Munda is expected to open the Pandora's box of Cabinet expansion where such concerns are expected to be addressed. Limited scope and too many aspirations will be a major test for both Goswami and Munda.

Kolhan to hog Munda Cabinet?
Monday | September 27, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Chief Minister Arjun Munda was in a hurry to return to the State capital to give the finishing touches to much-awaited cabinet expansion in Jharkhand, but the central BJP directed him to stay for a couple of days to attend the meeting of the central election committee of the party.

An important meeting of the central election committee of the BJP will be held on Monday in New Delhi to discuss the final list of the BJP candidates for Bihar Assembly election

It is going to be, probably, the last meeting of central BJP to be attended by Munda as he would have to give up the post of national general secretary of the party following swearing-in as Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Sources in the BJP said that the alliance partners have ironed out their differences over the allocation of portfolios and the number of berths in the ministry. The BJP might get four berths in the ministry, including the post of CM. Munda is quite keen to retain his trusted Barkuwar Gagrai in the ministry. Nevertheless, a section of party feels Gagrai’s inclusion will unreasonably tilt the balance of the ministry in the favour of Kolhan region since Munda belongs to the same region. Munda’s another trusted man Vaidynath Ram is also expected to find place in the ministry.

The entry of party MLA from Santhal Pargana division Arun Mandal is also expected; it is largely seen as an attempt to correct regional imbalances in the ministry formation. After all, Santhal Pargana has often been whining for not getting adequate representation in the previous coalition government led by Shibu Soren. Mandal’s entry in the ministry is also supported on the ground that it will strengthen the bond of the party with backward community that had slowly started inching away from the party.

But the very political mechanism of the party which has largely been debated in the party might come as a damper for another party MLA from Santhal Pargana division Satyanand Jha ‘Batul’ who once sought support from all ‘faction friend’ Prabhat Jha (Madhya Pradesh BJP president) to get entry in the ministry.

He may believe that his theatrics and histrionics, during floor test and outside, with which he defended and praised Munda’s leadership will pay dividend at last. But under the existing caste combination when a Brahmin — Dinesanand Goswami — has already been appointed as party president things appears tough for Batul.

It may appear cynical to announce that the coming days will bring more drought for party stalwart and Munda’s bete noire — Raghuwar Das. But Munda’s close aides confided that for Das it was quite unlikely to get a berth in the ministry even if he wishes so. Kolhan factor comes again.

“Can you accommodate three Kolhan figures in the ministry? Even if you drop Gagrai, the party organisation and the ministry will be biased in favour of Kolhan. It will be going to be a Jamshedpur centric ministry in such situation,” said a close aide of Munda.

Till central BJP work out a suitable accommodation plan for Das, Kolhan cauldron will keep on boiling.

Farook questions delay in Cabinet expansion

Thursday, September 30, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA
RANCHI

Memories of former Governor Ved Marwah must have haunted Chief Minister Arjun Munda again when Governor MOH Farook on Wednesday asked him to explain the reason behind delay in Cabinet expansion.

A day back, Munda in an official communiqué to Raj Bhavan wished to expand his ministry on October 8, but the Governor was reported to be not satisfied over extension of another one week for the cabinet expansion. Farook wants him to complete his Cabinet under the light of Article 164 (1) (A) of the Constitution.

In 2004, then Governor Marwah had threatened Munda to dissolve his Government as the number of ministers in his Cabinet fell short of requisite numbers --- 11 against prescribed 12 ministers, under the said Article.

Sources in the Raj Bhavan confided that Farook during 25 minute meeting with Munda wanted him to explain the reasons behind delay in Cabinet expansion.

Munda said: “I have explained reasons behind the delay. It is our belief that good works must be started on auspicious moment. The delay is not deliberate…ongoing Pitri Paksha is not seen auspicious to start an important work or assignment.”

Raj Bhavan may not like to pick quarrel with the Government on this front but as sources said, “Extending Cabinet expansion beyond October 8 will be quite unwelcome.”

Nevertheless, Munda appeared firm in his view that Cabinet expansion was a sole prerogative of the Chief Minister. “I will expand the Cabinet on the given date but it can be expanded before October 8 or after also. It depends upon situation.”

Interestingly, Raj Bhavan received the communication regarding the Cabinet expansion on Tuesday at a time when Farook was entertaining a delegation of Congress-JVM Opposition that raised objection over delay in Cabinet expansion. Asking the Governor to act under the light of Constitution, the Opposition even demanded the dismissal of the Munda Government for its failure to follow Article 164.

The Opposition repeatedly mentioned that in the year 2004 similar constitutional crisis had cropped up when Marwah had almost decided to dismiss Munda's Government after Munda made considerable delay in maintaining minimum number of ministers in his Cabinet. In a late Tuesday evening development, Raj Bhavan sources said, Farook summoned Advocate General Sohail Anwar to seek opinion over the implication of the Article.

Under the Article 164, the Chief Minister of a State is bound to retain 15 per cent of the total strength of the house or a minimum of 12 ministers in the Cabinet --- which so ever is applicable.

But constitutional experts claim that the Article does not mention any timeline or deadline under which a CM needed to act.

In 2004, Munda was forced to induct Satyanand Bhokta on August 26 in his ministry after Raj Bhavan in a late night communication to the CMO threatened to dismiss his Government.

Munda plans quiet ride on DMU
October 2, 2010


VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

After initial euphoria of Government formation and media reports about bickering among allies on the portfolios, Chief Minister Arjun Munda is now keen on keeping a veto power on all departments.

After staying in New Delhi for a couple of days, along with his deputy Chief Ministers Hemant Soren of the JMM and Sudesh Mahato of the AJSU, to resolve logjam over portfolio distribution, Munda returned to the State capital on Wednesday evading "whose who" of his cabinet that will be expanded on October 8.

Prior to his arrival in the State capital, Munda directed Chief Secretary AK Singh to prepare a "vision document" for the execution of plans and projects — both long and short term — of key departments. Sources in the CMO attributed it to be the evolving concept of Direct Monitoring Unit (DMU).

"A fortnight back this Government was formed. Now, people will reasonably want to know as how he (Munda) wants to proceed," said a CMO official.

Mentioning rural development, agriculture, irrigation, plans to control drought, road, electricity, safe drinking water, infrastructural development, health and a few others as major thrust area, Munda directed the CS to present a blueprint for the effective execution.

Though, no credible information about backroom negotiation over portfolio distribution is available, except very keenness of Munda to retain key departments like energy, road construction and rural development with him those directly associated with the public.

The JMM is baiting for the energy, whereas the AJSU is reported to be interested in retaining road construction department.

"Whosoever alliance partners get these key departments, but the Chief Minister wants DMU and delivery mechanism firmly under his supervision to supervise the flagship projects he wishes to unveil," source close to Munda said.

Sources said that the formula of DMU is still in conceptual phase, "its final shape will be decided only after his two Deputy Chief Ministers Hemant Soren of the JMM and Sudesh Kumar Mahato of the AJSU agree," sources said accepting "some pocket of resistance."

The allies might reasonably fear DMU as an instrument to superimpose the authority of the Chief Minister in the regular and key affairs of such departments.

On being asked, Munda evaded a direct reply. "Running Government is a team work. It is quite immaterial that who runs the department. Effective monitoring and timely action is the key responsibility of the Government." Munda remarked.

Munda took oath on September 11 and proof to his DMU intention became official four days later. He directed the Chief Secretary of the Government and Principal Secretary of Road Construction Department to complete formalities of ambitious 311-km Govindpur via Sahebganj road construction project within 15 days. Munda will inaugurate the ambitious project, with estimated cost of Rs 1,064 crore, in Dumka on October 2. On the very first day in the office, Munda directed the Energy Secretary to prepare a roadmap for 'zero power cut.' Informally these departments have not been slotted to anybody.

In the words of a close member of CM's inner circle, Munda has taken lesson from the mistakes from his two previous terms. "Ministers of his previous two Governments, particularly independents, had grown audacious in running the departments. There was none to stop them because they commanded for the survival of the Government."

Compulsion of coalition politics is still at its place but it is not so dominant, though. After the fall of the coalition Government led by the Chief Minister Shibu Soren, none wants to let the Government down, the JMM in particular. Munda knows it well, and, he planning a quite ride on DMU.

CM seeks Plan panel support for progress
October 3

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Quite keen over the development of Jharkhand; Chief Minister Arjun Munda has sought support from the Planning Commission of India to discuss the issue of development and planning of Jharkhand.

Talking to selected mediapersons at his residence, on Saturday, before leaving for Jamshedpur, Munda said that the meeting is expected to be held in Ranchi on October 19.

“I want to know where we are lacking. We will make presentation before the members and experts of the Commission. It will help us to correct the things…it will guide us in devising plans and projects in the coming days, Munda said.

Munda has already spoken to member Commission; Sudha Pillai a few days back and she agreed to offer and supply all support and expertise in setting things aright.

“My entire Cabinet, top officials of the departments will take part in the meeting. Each department will make separate presentation of the plans and projects which will be analysed by the team of experts, Munda added. While roads and electricity are two key concerns of the Government, Munda said that he wanted to expand the network of road in Jharkhand.

Talking about the absence of any credible data and index of the human resource in Jharkhand he said that the Commission’s meeting would broaden his understanding over how to use human resources for all rounded development of Jharkhand.

Munda has already instructed Chief Secretary AK Singh to submit detailed report of every department along with its budgetary outlay of the current financial year and the resources actually required.

Keen to carry on ambitious biometric card project in Jharkhand Munda said that he was personally interested for successful execution of this plan. “Think. How things will be changed if the people hold a biometric card. A single card will hold all information of the holder of the card. It will be big thing,” Munda said. Munda has already sought a detailed project report and the roadmap for the execution of biometric card in Jharkhand.

Munda rushes to Delhi for party’s nod

Thursday, October 7, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA | RANCHI

Chief Minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday strode adroitly across the trickiest terrain in the coalition politics, smothering murmurs of differences over sharing of ministerial berths with alliance partners, yet leaving the door ajar for conjecture over the shape of his Cabinet.

"All nine vacant posts in the Cabinet will be filled on October 8 as proposed," Munda told the media after holding the meeting of party's legislative body. He said, "The meeting was called to obtain feedbacks and suggestions on the functioning of his Government in the last one month."

Top BJP sources said that Munda during the meeting sought assurance from the party MLAs that the decision over the selection of names will not be resented stating that a final decision will be taken only after due consultation with party seniors in New Delhi.

Munda parried couple of pointed questions over the proposed faces in the Cabinet — regional, gender or otherwise — offering tailor-made answers.

Asked whether he will induct a woman in his ministry, he said, "There are several factors like caste, creed and region that are taken into consideration while such decisions are taken." Munda said that he will take development into consideration while taking a final call on the catalogue competing clamour for the ministerial berths. He was asked the question in the wake of splintered women voice in the BJP that met party's national organisational secretary Saudan Singh on Wednesday seeking assurance of the representation of a woman face in Munda's ministry.

JD(U)'s Sudha Chaudhary, who held portfolio in the previous coalition government of the JMM-BJP-AJSU-JD(U) combine, took umbrage over Munda's circumlocution over the representation of a woman in the ministry. She replied with a stern note: "Ministerial berth is our right. We have spoken to the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and party national president Sharad Yadav about our claim…Coalition partners will get apt representation in the ministry."

Chaudhary is less concerned for her party; "her concern is more personal," said a senior BJP leader. In the previous Cabinet expansion exercise, Chaudhary, owing to her strong connection in the JD(U) as her brother Udaynarayan Chaudhary is the Speaker of the Bihar Assembly, had tilted central unit's support in her favour. But this time she is facing another big problem --- JD(U) MLA from Tamar Raja Peter; who is close to Chief Minister Arjun Munda may favour his induction.

Soon after the meeting, Munda flew to New Delhi to take high command's consent on the proposed list of ministers from the BJP quota. CMO sources said that Munda will consult some of the top leaders over the names. He is scheduled to return today.

The Chief Minister kept the claimants within his party guessing about the sharing of seats --- BJP one (CM post) plus three, JMM one (Dy CM) plus four, AJSU one (Dy CM) plus one and JD (U) one. Another formula thoroughly discussed at the State BJP office does not mention the JD(U) in the ministry.

In the BJP camp, Baidyanath Ram looked confident. Munda personally wishes to retain his trusted MLA Barkuwar Gagrai, but the latter faces challenge from Nilkanth Singh Munda, who was minister in the previous Government. Munda is under pressure to give representation to Santhal Pargana. Arun Mandal and Satyanand Jha Batul are the two and only claimants belonging to Santhal Pargana.

Significantly former party president and MLA Raghuwar Das kept himself out of the deliberation. Notwithstanding, his close aides defended his absence due to his preoccupation with some public functions in his hometown; everybody in the party and outside now know as to why Das kept himself away. "He has no business here," a senior party leader said.

Munda's Navratna: Picture by Mukesh Bhatt




Nine Ministers take oath

October 9, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA | RANCHI


After putting Cabinet expansion exercise in abeyance for nearly one month, Chief Minister Arjun Munda claimed his Cabinet is the combination of fresh flair, innovation and talent after nine MLAs took oath as minister of the coalition Government on Friday.

Munda made last-minute contentious changes in the proposed list of the Minister from the BJP on Thursday night leaving many baffled while some took an understanding view of the choices made — political, personal or otherwise.

"It is a composite and balanced team representing cross section of society. They will do something innovative for the betterment of Jharkhand," Munda said after the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhawan.

To give a different look of the ministry, not to be seen as a carryover of the Shibu Soren-led JMM-BJP-AJSU-JD(U) coalition Government, he pulled on board four new faces — Satyanand Jha Batul and Bimla Pradhan (BJP), Raja Peter (JD-U) and Champai Soren (JMM). He jettisoned four others — Raghuwar Das and Nilkanth Singh Munda (BJP), Sudha Chaudhary (JD-U) and Umakant Rajak (AJSU), who were ministers in the Soren Government. Rest of the old faces — Hemlal Murmu, Hazi Hussain Ansari and Mathura Mahato (all from JMM) and Chandra Prakash Chaudhary of the AJSU and Baidyanath Ram — have been retained.

Das' close aides claimed that he was unwilling to join Munda's Cabinet as subordinate but in the light of trickiest scheme of regional balancing act and his soared relationship with Munda; his induction in the ministry was declared beforehand quite unlikely.

Das, who enjoyed number two positions in the Soren Government as deputy Chief Minister, had no podium moment today, but he was talk of the political circle. He was among those important absentee who did not attend oath-taking ceremony along with Nilkanth Singh, Teklal Mahato, Simon Marandi and Lobin Hembrum of the JMM, Sudha and Kamal Kishore Bhagat of the AJSU. Discreetly they aired their grudge over Cabinet expansion as today's exercise left many fumed and exasperated.

"It is yes-man selection by Deputy CM Hemant. Seniors have been neglected," Simon said predicting gloomy days ahead for the Government. Teklal spew less venom but he is ready to bite whenever situation arises.

In the AJSU, the dissidence broke even before the official announcement and reached to the public square on Thursday evening. Supporters of Adivashi Kalyan Parishad protested AJSU chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Kumar Mahto for ignoring Bhagat. They termed him a practitioner of dynastic politics. The entry of Chandra Prakash in the ministry —his close relative, was protested so stoutly that a sulked Sudesh even did not talk to the media at Raj Bhawan as to how he feels about the balanced and composite cabinet.

Munda kept everybody guessing. Around 8pm on Thursday night, party MLA from Santhal Pargana division Arun Mandal was sure to be taken in the ministry. The name of Nilkanth Singh, party sources claimed, was almost agreed to represent Chhotanagpur division.

Munda sprang the last-minute surprise that night and replaced Mandal with Batul, who belongs to Santhal Pargana division, and Nilkanth with Pradhan from Chhotanagpur division. Jha had not dreamt so much of kindness from Munda.

Munda left Mandal star struck on late Thursday night when he told Mandal, 'Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain. Abhi politics me imtehan aur bhi hain.'

Munda displayed 'hitting three birds with single' stone' act. He was not keen to retain Nilkanth and Sudha in the ministry. He wanted Peter, who is close to him. By bringing Pradhan in the ministry, he calmed the clamour for woman's representation insuring Chhotanagpur division is not left out.

Munda's ministers have yet to revel fresh flair; the day proved Munda is more innovative and talented in team selection exercise.

Not face to face; but friends under coalition’s compulsion
October 10, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA | RANCHI

Raja Peter is a dark and lovely irony of this coalition Government: dark and lovely like his flowing silky hair.

This JD (U) MLA’s induction in the coalition Ministry led by Arjun Munda on Saturday was loathed by fairly shrunken ranks of the loyalists of JMM chief Shibu Soren whom Peter had finished in the by-election of Tamar assembly seat in January 2009.

“We accept that coalition politics means compulsion and compromise with the circumstances. Even after, we are not able to digest his elevation as Minister. We cannot
erase the past memory and scratches of humiliation.

I do not know how Soren and others are feeling now,” a central secretary of the JMM said soon after the oath-taking ceremony on Saturday.

In the BJP-JMM-AJSU-JD (U) coalition Government where Soren has been appointed as
chairman; Cabinet steering committee; Soren is sure for a frequent encounter with Peter.

But then, JMM has been in no position to dictate the list of the Ministers of the coalition parties. Peter’s selection had the official nod of the JD (U) with the backing of Munda.

“Politically I am not opposed to Peter. But average JMM workers have not forgotten the defeat of Soren and they dislike Peter more then they like Soren. Despite our repeated efforts and plea Peter and likes had not withdrawn from the contest.

Their sole objective was to defeat Soren. Now you are shaking hands,” senior JMM leader and Littipara MLA Simon Marandi said.

But then, it is coalition politics. “Be it coalition politics or collision politics; certain things never change. For JMM leaders; politics is a business to make fast bucks,” Marandi said.
Peter had contested as Jharkhand Party candidate and the defeat changed the face of State politics: Soren had to resign as Chief Minister of the coalition Government and faced the biggest political drubbing and humiliation of his life.

The man fashioned himself in a new identity Abhutpurva Bidhayak, (extraordinary MLA) after the election result accepting that defeating a serving Chief Minister would remain the biggest achievement of his political career; short yet shining. But then he had become the member of that exclusive club of the politicians, who at some point of time had defeated any serving Chief Minister or Prime Minister.Peter became the poster boy of State politics, but, Soren’s loyalists never forgot and never forgave him for dashing the cultivated image of their master in the battlefield of Tamar: Invincible Guru.


Nevertheless, after the result Peter could not see the face of the State Assembly as Jharkhand was brought under President’s rule for an extended period. He was loath to admit Abhutpurva Bidhayak again — its meaning had totally changed as he once said that he felt neither like a sitting nor former MLA. Peter later on contested as JD (U) candidate from Tamar in the last Assembly election.

Soren again became Chief Minister with the support of the BJP-AJSU and JD (U) and Peter was eager to erase that negative imprint. He got cold response. He is still attempting a thaw.

“Tamar election was a different story; it was an election. Soren will always remain a respected leader of Jharkhand. He has blessed me and will guide us with his vision for the development of Jharkhand,” Peter said.

The dark and unlovely irony is that Soren seems to have still not recovered from the Tamar shock.

He flinched when Peter bent down to seek his blessings after taking oath. Was it a blessing, was it a curse it is is mystry.

Munda allocates portfolio, retains energy and road with him

Alliance partners swap role in government


VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Chief Minister Arjun Munda allocated portfolios among his ministers while keeping two key departments Energy and Road despite last moment pressure and whining of alliance partners JMM and AJSU to hand over the two plum portfolios under agreed portfolio swapping formula.

Top sources confided that Munda could not lay his hand over Mining Department as the JMM refused to concede further. The department was allocated to JMM minister and Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren along with Finance, Commercial Tax, Urban Development and Housing, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Civil Aviation.

A list to this effect Munda sent to the Governor MOH Farook on late Saturday night for assent after marathon meeting with Hemant and Sudesh Kumar Mahto of the AJSU. It was notified on Sunday.

Munda retained Personnel Department, Administrative Reform, Cabinet Secretariat and Coordination, Home, Vigilance, Planning and Development and all those departments which have not been allocated to anybody.

Under formula agreed by the coalition partners reported by The Pioneer on September 9, the BJP and the JMM had agreed to swap its respective portfolio retained during the previous JMM-BJP-AJSU-JD (U) government led by Shibu Soren.

‘Road Construction Department’ came as a considerable loss for the AJSU as Deputy CM Sudesh was quite keen to continue with this department. But he retained Rural Development along with NREP Youth Sports and Cultural Affairs, NREP, Panchyati Raj Institution, Forest and Environment. Sudesh was awarded Water Resource portfolio which was retained by the minister of his party Chandra Prakash Chaudhary.

While Chaudhary got Science and Technology, Building construction, Labour employment—a key department he held in the previous government ‘Drinking Water and Sanitation went to the JMM.

There was a mutual swap of the HRD and the Health Department and Family Welfare — the JMM and the BJP agreed for. HRD went to BJP’s Baidyanath Ram where as Health Department will be now headed JMM Minister Hemlal Murmu who was handed over another two departments — Family Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs.

Cabinet’s only minority face Hazi Hussain Ansari of the JMM remained more or less in the same role as minister of ‘Minority Welfare Development with minor addition of Cooperative Department.

Mathura Mahato of the JMM will look after Food, Public Distribution System and Consumer Affairs and Revenue and Land Reform. The first two departments were retained by the BJP in the past ministry. Champai Soren of the JMM who became the minister after the BJP conceded one berth for the JMM is set to stir Transport Department as well as Tribal. The JD (U) which got one berth in the ministry, its minister Raja Peter has been given the assignment of Excise and Prohibition, Disaster Management Department. Earlier these two departments remained with Soren himself when he was the CM of the coalition government. BJP’s Bimla Pradhan, the lone woman in the ministry has been allocated ‘Social Welfare’, ‘Woman and Child Development’ and Tourism.

BJP’s Satyanand Jha Batul is a baffling case of gloom after high hope. He had strongly lobbied for HRD and landed in the barn of Animal Husbandry. This ‘strictly vegetarian’ minister has to look after the Department of Fisheries. Nevertheless, another two significant departments Agriculture and Sugarcane are with him.

A preemptive letter to stop piecemeal cabinet expansion


Governor MOH Farook writing to Chief Minister Arjun Munda not to defer cabinet expansion exercise beyond October 8, sources in the Raj Bhavan said, “is a preemptive measure to stop Munda from a piecemeal cabinet expansion.”

Farook on Friday dropped a missive to the CMO to complete cabinet formation exercise by October 8 under the light of the Article 164 (A1) of the Constitution. Nevertheless, Munda in his official communiqué to Governor on September 28 had already informed that the cabinet will be expanded on October 8.

The letter left CMO baffled, offering a miffed reaction — quite unwilling for a riposte. “Do you think we should write a letter? It will be an endless exercise. Things were explained to him through official communiqué. CM reaffirmed this during his one to one meeting with Governor,” a close political aide of Munda said.

Nevertheless, CMO sources close to The Pioneer tried to downplay it denying that the Friday letter was embossed with strong adjectives and harsh message as some section of the media reported.

But in second admittance he told something else. “How can Governor report to the Centre if CM is not expanding his cabinet? Is there timeline mentioned in the Article to expand the cabinet to the prescribed limit?”

Former Governor Ved Marwah had also over-interpreted Article 164 in the year 2004 when Munda was CM, and, Marwah got a fit reply from Saryu Rai, the leader added.

But the fact of the matter, as a top BJP source said: “Munda does not want to expand his cabinet at one go. He wants it in a piecemeal manner in three phases. Certain coalition compulsions and differences over the selection of faces for the ministry in the party as well as alliance partners have delayed this process.”

For example, clamouring for ministerial berths — and dissension if denied — is has become an uncontrolled epidemic in the JMM. The AJSU leadership on record displayed politically mature face over the shape of the coming ministry. But internally it sulked and shuddered over any attempt to reduce its share in the government from three to two. Accommodating demands of the allies in the government is a problem for Munda. The leadership even planned to drop JD (U) from the ministry by offering some suitable package. But the JD (U) is quite unprepared to get slaughtered.
The first phase of cabinet expansion is over while the second will take place on October 8. And, if Cm is probably planning for third one Farook may like to pronounce monosyllabic ‘Main’ (I) to administer oath to a minister: letter has made so.