Miss their voice

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi

The Assembly Hall will not resonate with authoritative voice of those who commanded statistics and figures on their finger tips duringassembly debate. It is because some of them got defeated in the recently held State Assembly election while some of them moved to bigger arena:parliament.

Former assembly Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari, BJP fire brand Saryu Rai and Arjun Munda, former JD (U) leader Radhakrishna Kishore, former finance minister Stephen Marandi are not the part of the third Jharkhand State Assembly the session to which starts from tomorrow.

Both Namdhari and Munda got elected during the parliamentary elections from Palamu and Jamshedpur respectively while Rai, Kishore and Marandi became the victim of voters' backlash irrespective of their contribution in forcing three successive governments to be accountable. If the House will miss them it is because they spoke against their owngovernment.

For instance the BJP government was forced to abandon ambitious Bhagirathi Irrigation Projects involving initial seed money of Rs 10 crore after Kishore raised the issue of the drainage of public money on the name of this project on the floor of the House. Both Rai and Kishore were on the forefront to raise the issue of alleged irregularities in awarding contract to the Meinhardt Singapore Private Limited involving the minister of their own government Raghuwar Das.

In a newly elected House of 81 the first timer commands the majority after 61 sitting MLAs lost the election. "I will suggest them to at least know the assembly proceedings…attend assembly session and take part in the debate the job for which they have been elected," Namdhari wished them. The composition of the last assembly was a curious and baffling mixture of veteran and novice. Nevertheless, "fact remained a majority of MLAs had no knowledge of planned and non-planned expenditure and among them there was the tendency to escape the debate right from the first day of the session," Kishore recollected the fact.

In the last assembly there was a time when all most 98 per cent ordinance and bill tabled by the government passed without the Opposition brining any amendment to that. If the records of proceedings of the House are seen Kishore and Rai were on the forefront of brining maximum amendments to the bill while sitting in the Opposition. Nobody in the Opposition even cared for brining cut motion during the budget motion. "Rai took this initiative and I joined him in grilling the government by brining cut motion and forcing the treasury benchfor a full debate over the budget and the expenditure," Kishore said.

December 2008 budget session: The finance minister Marandi's repeated application of the kerchief to his brow during his 20-minute answer of supplementary questions over the budget asked by Namdhari, Arjun Munda, Rai and Kishore determined their role as the Opposition. His forehead was constantly dehydrating, his hands constantly reaching out for repair and re-hydration. And he was not able to explain as to how he would be able spend the rest 70 per cent of the budgetary allocation of more than Rs 2500 crore in three months before the end of the financial year.

"Ye chamatakar to sirf aap hi kar sakte hai mantriji," (only you can do this miracle minister). The man clad in white attire--Namdhari--had the last word over minister's white lie. Namdhari many called 'headmaster' was a monster among the ministers that coexisted with his saintly look till he remained the Speaker. Namdhari often encouraged the 'silent brigade' in the House to break their Maun Vrata (observance of silence). They included Saurabh Narayan Singh, Gopal Sharan Nath Shahdeo, Israel Ansari, Thomas Hansda, Kunti Singh etc who were the part of 'non-speakers club. There was foul mouth brigade to drag the debate down to the gutter.

Though missing, it is preserved in the proceedings that will soon be archived.

New army of the Congress: 13 spokespersons to counter BJP and dissidents as well
Vijay Deo Jha
Ranchi

Why Jharkhand Congress lost the media war against the BJP in the last general elections.

The state Congress came to know the reason exactly after three months of the results of the elections where it lost five out of six parliamentary seats.

It had no effective media wing and spokespersons to sustain and counter the BJP’s blitzkriegs despite having six spokespersons including media head Dr VP Saran, Ravindra Singh, Gulam Sarvar Rizwi, Prabhat Singh, KK Agrawal and Sima Patra.

The party perhaps felt the need of more and more experienced head and authoritative voices to pitch a high octane battle against the BJP. After all election of the state assembly is at sniffing distance and the party can not risk loosing the battle against the BJP once again.

A senior party leader pointed out that while the entire media cell remained a disorganized house during the general election; a couple of leaders besides the state party president Pradeep Balmuchu were left in the battlefield to defend the party.

The Congress probably thought it wise to do this to counter the BJP, the party quite regular in media briefing. The BJP is quite prone to organise press conference and drop bombshell on the Congress at every issue, major or minor.

The seven new faces: the Union Cabinet Minister Subodhkant Sahai, Radhakrishna Kishore, Stephen Marandi, Rajendra Singh, MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat, Niel Tirkey and CLP leader Manoj Yadav.

With this the total number of spokespersons in the party has swelled from six to 13. About their new responsibilities in the party, a party insider said: “They have been authorised to talk to the media over related issue and spell out the policy of the Congress party.

A senior leader and party spokesperson denied that these seven leaders have been inducted in the media cell or were given the designation of party spokesperson.

“But we felt that senior party leaders must be given responsibilities to counter the BJP leaders of similar position and hierarchy…it is applicable in the case of other parties like the JMM and others,” leader said. The idea to bring seniors of the party on the centre stage was mooted by the state party in-charge K Keshav Rao who to make a cohesive group to counter each and every charge of the BJP that has been growing day by day.


Sources in the party said that Rao and state Congress had expressed dissatisfaction over the working of the media cell and the reluctance of the senior party leaders during parliamentary elections. It was urgently felt to appoint heavy weights to interact with the media and voice the stand of the party.


“There is one more reason behind this,” said another party leader. The state unit was really in hurry to make these appointments after the BJP started giving a daily knock to the Governor K Sankaranarayanan, even on flimsy ground.

The Congress plans the battle in the following way. Sahai who till a week back used to speak to the media about party affairs and others—often at the airport or on the sideline of any programme—will take on BJP veteran Yashwant Sinha. The newly inducted Stephen Marandi can be a counter to the JMM. Similarly the JD (U) turncoat Radhakrishna Kishore can be used against both JD (U) and the BJP’s invectives.

But there is indeed a reason quite that remained unstated. “It has been done not only to counter the BJP. There are many within the party who has been airing contradictory voices over party affairs. These seven will marshal and discipline dissidents also,” one among the seven said.

The number 13 sounds quite ominous. Party’s experiment will be visible in the coming days, there are many who marvel at this jumbo setup.

Lesson for desi raja

Vijay Deo Jha

Ranchi Thursday, July 16, 2009

Syed Sibtey Razi showed the Jharkhand establishment how to win hearts.

Not with packages but with caring eye and promise to solve their problems Razi extended his helping hand to the people who had come from different parts of the State to attend ‘Janta Durbar. The Governor’s House was kept wide open for this on Wednesday.

He personally received the complaints of 368 people. He directed the concerned officials to solve the problem and inform his secretariat within a week about the action taken thereon.

It was a Governor who was not sitting in his royal chair to listen to the grievances of the common man. He rather rubbed his shoulder with the common masses and tried to get the feel of their problems unlike babudom which has been immune to these.

“I have come here to share their pain and suffering and the officials have been directed to take actions within a week. I will take the final decision. People got an opportunity to meet me and I have taken cognizance to their complaints and I will help them,” Razi dropping enough hint that his Janta Durbar was not a tamasha.

The officials will have to face the music if they have taken this initiative as a mere show. “Sabhi ka class lagega, kuch sikayat aisi bhi hai jisme administration ki laparwahi saaf dikhti hai,” a senior official of the Governor’s House quipped.

Will Razi hold another Janta Durbar in future? For those who unfortunately could not get registration to attend ‘Janta Durbar’ Razi signalled: “For me such initiatives are taken to be continued in future. Razi was trying to make the administration responsive to the need of the people and wanted to know how in the past his administration handled the problem of the common masses.

Only last year the former Chief Minister Shibu Soren had held similar Janta Durbar which attracted a huge crowd. On Wednesday among the complainants were those whose petitions were received by the same officials last year only to thicken the file.

Razi on his part refused to draw a parallel between the Janta Durbar held by a CM or Minister in the past and one that he organised. “There is no comparison between the two…I do not want to draw a parallel,” Razi curtly said. For media it was an oblique remark against the political mandarins of this state who flaunt their love for people’s welfare.

Tears rolled down the cheeks of Tapsi Chaudhary a native of Sindgora; Jamshedpur. She clasped the Governor’s folded hands and said: “Please do justice Sir. My daughter Mausmi Chaudhary was killed on May 9 by the owner of Air Hostess Academy Dhiraj and the owner of Hotel Sonnet. Police have not revealed the autopsy to ascertain her death.” Razi immediately instructed Gauri Sankar Rath, DG CID to look into the matter.

Razi cast a bewildered look at 82-year-old Ramdhani Chaudhary when he said that the administration refused to give pension facility despite high court’s order in this respect. “Queer case,” Razi mumbled only to find ‘learned officials’ around him to explain this.

Jatasanakar Prasad, the father of Deoghar based deceased reporter Pramod Kumar Munna deplored police apathy in solving the murder case having alleged involvement of the former Minister Harinarayan Rai. The then Chief Minister Madhu Koda had announced to give exgratia of Rs one lakh to the family of Pramod Kumar. So far the family has not received even a penny from the State Government, Razi was informed.

“Sir, I am forced to do begging. I have no means to keep my body and soul together,” Prasad along with his grandchild requested Razi with folded hand. “Police have been investigating this case. But the State Government will certainly help the family,” on being inquired by the media Razi said this.

Razi was visibly impressed to see differently abled Priti Kumari who sought a job for her. Secured 82 per cent marks in ISc examination this year; she also passed the competitive examination of AIEEE. “I am poor and fatherless. I seek your support,” Priti said.

Will officials swing to action after Razi reminded them that he would take the final decision? Will Razi stay as the Governor of Jharkhand till e date of decision and final judgement? Not sure perhaps?

Balmuchu’s days as State Cong chief over

Vijay Deo Jha Thursday, July 16, 2009

What Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said, during a debate on Tuesday, about the tentative date of Jharkhand Assembly election, it was aimed at the audiences sitting in the Central Hall of Parliament. The audiences were a handful of UPA MLAs, including president of the State Congress Pradeep Balmuchu, who had not lost hope of yet another UPA Government in the State.

While the political parties have started exercises for the election, it left many a UPA leaders wary about their future. The well-placed source in the Congress confided that former finance minister Stephen Marandi was in hurry to sport the Congress' tag.

Marandi held a meeting with Ahmed Patel, the political advisor of Congress president Sonia Gandhi over his proposed crossover to the Congress fold. The Congress secretly sent seductive notes to the RJD fold also. "RJD MLA from Sarath Uday Shankar Singh and the Jharkhand Party MLA of Tamar, Raja Peter, are also in the wish list of the Congress.

The party, in fact, is looking for the potential leaders in view of the Assembly elections," said a senior Congress leader indicating about a long list of such leaders. After Chidambaram declined the Congress was willing to form the Government, he hinted the Assembly election could probably be held after the monsoon was over; the hope of Balmuchu was dashed to the ground.

Also the replacement of Balmuchu is a matter of time and the stint of the former might not go beyond the month of July, said a senior Congress leader. The Congress bosses are still to settle the leadership issues in Jharkhand following a campaign against Balmuchu by a section of party leaders.

"Reshuffle in the State unit of the Congress could be made anytime after the proposed revamping of the AICC on Friday. More probably the decision will be made in the favour of a tribal leader for the post of president," a party MLA said after returning from New Delhi.

Till the time the Congress decides a new president, the delay has only created an impasse and a state of confusion among the ranks and file of the party leaders and workers. A deeply divided Congress with atrophied organisational base, this election will be a litmus test for the party.

Even the party insiders accepted that present party president drained precious time in securing the nod of the Central high command to form a Government in Jharkhand. "Probably from the last two months he was trying to divert the attention of the party from the change of the guard in the Congress towards government formation exercise which was meaningless," said Dadai Dubey, the former Congress MP from Dhanbad, a sworn enemy of Balmuchu. A day before the debate in Parliament over the extension of the President's Rule in Jharkhand; State Congress in-charge K Keshav Rao subtly hinted the replacement of Balmuchu.

Union Cabinet Minister for Food and Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahay, the senior party leader Rajendra Singh and former Union Tribal Affair Minister Rameswar Oraon are the front runners for the post. Whoever be the next Congress president, it will not be an apprentice job.

Web link http://www.dailypioneer.com/189427/Balmuchu’s-days-as-State-Cong-chief-over.html

BJP to question logic behind Prez rule extension

Vijay Deo Jha RANCHI Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Spell and thundershower are likely to occur when the UPA Government will table the bill to seek ratification of the extension of the President’s Rule (PR) in Jharkhand on the floor of the lower house of Lok Sabha on Monday.

After BJP MP Arjun Munda already announced to bring ‘disapproval motion’ against the proposed extension; the proceedings of the house is expected to be full of uproar and disruption. Munda along with other seven MPs of Jharkhand will be on the forefront to protest the bill. Karia Munda is the deputy speaker of the House.

“We will seek an answer from the UPA Government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the logic behind the extension of the President’s Rule in Jharkhand,” Munda said this to The Pioneer over telephone from New Delhi. Sources in the central BJP informed about a meeting of the senior party leaders about a close door meeting. In the meeting Munda along with senior party leader and MP Yaswant Sinha were asked to stir the debate when Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will table the bill.

Independent MP Indersingh Namdhari who has been trying to get the time from the chair will also raise BJP’s voices in the House. “I am trying to get the time to put up my point on this issue. But I will certainly like to join the debate to seek an early dissolution of the State assembly and a fresh election alongside. It is politically wrong to keep the assembly under suspended animation after no political party or alliance staked claim to form Government in the State,” Namdhari said.

If the BJP has planned to set a cat among the pigeons the Congress is unperturbed. “There is no cause to worry, this bill will have a safe passage in the House,” a senior Congress leader said over telephone from New Delhi.

But the BJP MPs will use each ‘allotted and snatched minute’ to pile on facts after facts; using their head and memory for statistics to expose the UPA’s design in Jharkhand. The BJP’s high octane note in the house might not have a much political impact. But the party will find solace in its effort to paint the Congress as politically bankrupt.

Even the Congress leaders in their private discourse accepted that the party should take a final decision over the fate of the State assembly as it is creating confusion among the UPA MLAs who have knocked doors of every central Congress leaders to allow them to form Government.

Over the fate of the State assembly and PR in Jharkhand a senior Congress leader said that the assembly could be dissolved in the month of August.

It should be noted that the six-months period of the President’s Rule in Jharkhand will expire on July 19 and the Centre is required to seek ratification of both the Houses to extend PR. The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on July 2 had taken a decision to extend PR in Jharkhand.

The State BJP in the meeting of the working committee already resolved to launch a mass agitation programme for early dissolution of the Assembly. The programme which is scheduled to be launched under the name of ‘Delhi Chale’ Munda was authorised to chalk out the programme.

The best part of the lively debate over PR will take place in the Lok Sabha but one can probably find the UPA MLAs of Jharkhand including State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu and others who have not lost hope for yet another Government in Jharkhand. But best wishes are not with them.

Health awareness among tribals powers Reddy’s life mission

Vijay Deo Jha

There is nothing special about the caller tune of the mobile phone of Ganesh Reddy.

But, the words of the caller tune “Ham me hai ujala andhiyara mitane ka, hum me hai hausla nai umang jagane ka…,” has been the signature tune of his life and the purpose for which he has been working for the last many years.

Ganesh Reddy, the founder of an NGO, Citizen Foundation (CF), is one who has painstakingly undertaken the task of health awareness and special training among the tribal populace.

“From the days of my childhood I wished to serve society. I along with my friends founded ‘Gandhi Sports Club’ and participated in several programme like Polio eradication,” Reddy said.
He proudly displays the mobile medical van which he got under ‘National Rural Health Mission’ is ready to roll down to the deep interior of the villages of Jharkhand to provide free medical service to the poor people. This van is equipped with doctors, nurses and other state-of-art facilities to provide free treatment to the tribal people of the districts like Simdega, Pakur, Jamtara, Godda and Dumka.

The rugged terrains of Jharkhand are quite familiar to Reddy and he can recount you the name and the topography of the villages of the state where health services do not exist even as token. This time he will try to reach the people with this sophisticated medical van to provide health service at their door step.
“We will chart out the route of the van and medical camp alongside. Everything is free of cost including medicine, x ray,” Reddy says. People die due to malnutrition; anemia and other diseases like malaria etc. and these problems are very acute among the people and many a precious life could have been saved if they could have been provided with medical care on right time, Reddy shared his experience. Working among the hapless tribal populace in the remote villages Poyarijoh, Suderpahari of district Godda Reddy has seen death and hunger from a close quarter.
It is a lesser known fact if Reddy won the heart of masses his effort was duly appreciated by international organizations like UNICEF. The foundation has been working in collaboration with ‘Jharkhand AIDS Control Society’ in Chaibasa for Aids awareness programme. Initially people were hesitant much because of the taboo involved to it but later on the programme turned into a campaign mode.
But initially it was a story of different contrast when he opted for social service. “I am a school drop out. Even my father MBN Reddy had termed me a basket case when I chose social service instead of resuming study,” Reddy revealed this.
Last year his father took his last breath. “But he died as a proud father, once he patted my back for what I am doing today,” Reddy also said.

CF that he established in 1997 along with his friends gave him a wide canvass to reach to the people who really need help. Apart from Jharkhand the foundation has the branches in six other states of Indian including Meghalaya, Bihar, Uttarakhand, New Delhi including NCR and West Bengal. He plans to open the branches of the foundation in Assam. Out of 24 districts of Jharkhand the foundation has its base in 20 districts.

The caller tune ends with high positive note: “Hum me hai jazba nai zindagi banane ka” (we have the spirit to make a new life). For Reddy is it a beginning.

RU foundation day ends on positive note

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, July 13, 2009

Ovation at ‘Maulana Azad Senate Hall’ and demonstration near ‘Governor’s House’, and both had the field day on Sunday.

It was the occasion of the 49th foundation year of Ranchi University (RU) which ended with a high positive note. Among the speakers including the Chancellor of the university Syed Sibtey Razi and the Vice Chancellor AA Khan in their pithy address to a large gathering at senate hall believed that RU would emerge as the centre of excellence.

Near the Governor’s House the teachers of the university—both retired and working—under the banner of Federation of University Teachers’ Association, Jharkhand had a quite demonstration to fulfill their long pending demands: payment of arrears, gratuity, payment of the backlog of salary under the head of 5th Commission and implementation of 6th Pay Commission.

Razi did not deliver ceremonial sort of address. “In the coming days RU will emerge as the hub of academic excellence,” he said. But he soon reminded them the challenges the era of globalisation and market have placed upon the current education system.

“We need to bring a change in the education system. It must be connected with employment. What happens when a graduate of humanity subject passes out he has no clear picture of his future,” Razi said the audience which nodded with acceptance.

“The quality education,” Razi remarked, “is missing…and it can not be achieved until we provide world class infrastructure to make a change,” Razi said. He narrated the effort of China in this context which has erected State-of-art infrastructure for universities in the country. “Similar initiatives should be taken in our country and if RU has been erecting buildings it is the future of India in making,” Razi said, adding “the State Government will provide every support to the universities of the State to match the standard.

Razi told this in response to what Khan said about the initiative that RU has taken to improve infrastructure and academic performance.

“We have built new buildings and in the coming days we plan to build some more,” Khan said. One of the newly constructed MCA buildings was inaugurated by the Governor on Sunday. “The building of Applied Science could be inaugurated on November 11, which is celebrated as world information day,” Khan said. Three of the colleges of RU have been granted autonomous status, Khan proudly mentioned it.

Khan also informed about the new courses and schemes of RU and appealed the teachers and students to prepare for a switch over to semester and grading system. Khan ended his speech advising the gathering to make a difference between noise and signal of the current education system to extract the best result.

Over to Governor’s House where these teachers had surely not heard what Khan said. They blamed the university officials and babudom for their plight. They had high praise for Razi as the head of the State one who really took initiatives for the redressal of their grievances. “We are thankful to the Governor who has respect for teachers of the State and he has done a lot of for us,” Baban Chaubey of the association said.

Blame on the State bureaucracy as anti-teacher that often stymie the movement of their file with illogical file notes. There was only one bureaucrat Sukhdeo Singh whom they claimed the only bureaucrat who supported the just demand of the teachers.

Most notably they requested RU officials to clear the backlog of the retired university teachers. Some of them retired some 20 years back but their pension has not been fixed while some of them have the daily tour to the office of RU to get their outstanding backlogs cleared, they claimed.

Both the assemblage presented theirs’ side of story; over the megaphone, in this way or that.

JD(U) MLA Kishore resigns from Assembly to join Cong

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Saturday, July 11, 2009

JD(U) MLA Radha Krishna Kishore resigned from the State Assembly on Friday. “I will join my old party, the Congress, as per my announcement,” Kishore said. Krishna, who is the brother-in-law of DGP VD Ram, submitted his resignation to the office of Assembly Speaker Alamgir Alam.

“After I announced my intention to join the Congress I thought not delay in tendering my resignation from the Assembly. I opted to resign and the moment my resignation is accepted I will resign from the party also,” Kishore told this correspondent.”

From the last one month Kishore was quite vocal about his intention to join the Congress. “I had left the Congress after I was persuaded by the former JD (U) MLA and now MP Chatra Indersingh Namdhari. Namdhari also left JD (U) and I realised that I should return to my old house,” Kishore explained.

Kishore earlier had announced his intention to quit the party after he met the State in-charge of party of the Congress K Keshav Rao a fortnight back. Two days back Kishore during his visit to New Delhi held another round of meeting with the Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, Rao and State Congress president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, who agreed to his come back in the party. During the by-election of two Rajya Sabha, Kishore has cast his vote to the Congress candidate Dhiraj Kumar Sahu.

“Right now I cannot tell you about the date when I will join the Congress; but it is a fait-accompli,” Kishore said. It should be learnt that from the past one year the State Congress had been trying for his come back. Kishore was top on the priority list of the Congress. The Congress even offered to field him as party candidate from Palamu.

Kishore rather opted to remain with the JD(U) to contest the election. He faced a humbling defeat in Palamu and openly blamed the BJP for insuring his defeat.

Interestingly Kishore squarely blamed the BJP for the change of his mind. “No doubt the JD(U) is a secular party and I have no grudge against the JD(U). But in the manner the BJP ditched the JD(U) in the general elections in Palamu and Chatra I find no future of the party,” said Kishore, for whom the Congress is a party of big political canvass.

Balmuchu bashers on prowl for his removal

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Thursday, July 9, 2009

Day breaks with new challenges for the State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu who is locked in battles with his adversaries in the party. Successive political developments in the past couple of days in New Delhi and Jharkhand have made his position shakier and a fresh threat lurked over his continuation as the PCC president.

Only on Tuesday night in New Delhi he was cautioned by Ahmed Patel; the political advisor of the AICC president Sonia Gandhi; for unsatisfactory discharge of duty as state PCC chief, the well-placed sources in the Congress confided.

He was reprimanded for his advocacy to form ‘a popular government’ in Jharkhand with the help of the JMM and odd number of independent MLAs who were also the ministers in the UPA led government. A good number of them have been facing corruption charges in the vigilance court in Jharkhand.

On the same day the former Congress MP Rameswar Oraon dropped a missive to Sonia Gandhi questioning the move of the some of the leaders of the state Congress to form government in Jharkhand. He termed it, “would further damage the image of the party.”

Oraon did not mention Balmuchu, as such, but a source close to him said that the line actually referred Balmuchu and Oraon as the claimant of PCC president is leading one of the factions of the state Congress which is keen for the removal of Balmuchu.

Balmuchu is still camping in New Delhi to convince the top Congress brasses for a government under his leadership after independent MLAs secretly pledged their support to him. Oraon has put Balmuchu in lather after he demanded a CBI inquiry against these tainted MLAs.

“Also Madam, Congress should take a stand to ask for CBI inquiry against these corrupt ex-ministers…these ministers have reportedly acquired huge asset even outside of the country,” Oraon said in his letter.

Oraon concluded his letter with a demand to dissolve the state assembly and seek a fresh mandate in the larger interest of the state and the party. Oraon who till yesterday could only be reported for his backroom maneuvering suddenly emerged on the political arena which is already crowded with claimants for the post of the party president.

The former party MP, Bagun Sumbrai who has been nourishing grudge against Balmuchu has added his voice in the favour of Oraon. On Monday Balmuchu bashers reassembled in New Delhi to ensure his ouster. Belonging to different camps of aspirants these party leaders have a common cause to espouse.

KN Jha reportedly met Sonia Gandhi and requested that a non tribal should be preferred for the post of state party president. Other leaders like Anadi Brahma, Chanchal Chatterjee, Iswarchand Pandey are also trying to impress central bosses the need for a new state PCC chief after Balmuchu over stayed to his tenure.

There are so many claimants: Subodhkant Sahai, Sushila Kerketta, KN Jha, Furkan Ansari, Rameswar Oraon etc. And one can not rule out that a political rookie of the party might startle everybody by emerging as a dark horse in this race.

Sources in the state Congress said that a fresh appointment of state party president could be made very soon. “The party high command might not like to face elections of the state assembly under the leadership Balmuchu after the party performed badly in the state in the general elections,” a senior Congress leader said.

While negotiations are still going on in New Delhi; the state Congress headquarter appeared to be a baffled house. “From the last one month ‘our president’ is busy defending himself and the central leadership is enjoying the cock-fight in Jharkhand.

Will somebody remind them the party really needed a facelift before the assembly election to fight against the NDA?”

Cong’s message to Bandhu, Bhanu: Mind your language

Ranchi, Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Vijay Deo Jha

The Congress sent an advice to the independent MLAs, Bandhu Tirkey and Bhanu Pratap Sahi, to mind their language against the party and Union Minister of Food and Processing, Subodhkant Sahai after the Government formation exercise in Jharkhand was aborted.

The Congress took the step a day after the two MLAs, pilloried Sahai for scuttling Government formation of the UPA in Jharkhand। Blaming Sahai for this, both of them said that the extension of the President’s Rule in Jharkhand was a cruel joke on Jharkhand.

“For a month, the Congress fooled us in the name of Government formation exercise. This party and its leaders had no intention to allow the installation of a popular Government,” Tirkey said.

The State Congress secretary Anadi Brahma on the other hand advised Tirkey and Sahi to refrain from such baseless allegations। “Such decisions regarding Government formation are taken by the central high command of the party after assessing the ground reality and Sahai has no role in it,” Brahma said.

The party reminded them that they remained Ministers in two successive UPA Governments and “they should not weaken the UPA combine in Jharkhand by leveling such allegations,” he said.

With this the honeymoon period of Jharkhand UPA is over but the acrimonious war of words has just begun। It is after the central leadership of the Congress put cold water over the wishes of the State UPA leaders to form Government।

The JMM has now understood the futility of such exercises after a long time। The party chief Shibu Soren wisely opted to revamp the party organization de novo; to face the electorates in the Assembly elections rather than bending further before the Congress.

But the party leaders did not hide their grudge against the Congress for creating political confusion। “Majority is on our side. But there is no hope of the Government formation, and, I admit it on record. But in the coming days the Congress will be the biggest loser. If they had no intention to form government they should have told it,” the JMM leader and former Agriculture Minister Nalin said.

The sources in the Congress said that government formation was fraught with the latent risk of further BJP backlash। “You are going to provide your enemy (BJP) a stick to beat you in the coming days। If the electorates messed the UPA in the elections in Jharkhand it means that the combine failed to deliver good governance in Jharkhand,” a senior party leader said.

The central leadership found no merit behind the logic of the State MLA that there was yet a scope left for the Congress to gain the confidence of the electorate।

Only once Sahai had told them “aise log jo Sarkar banana chahte hai unko mera door se pranam,” (Those who want to form Government, I salute them from a distance)। His words sardonically ring true today.

State BJP gets discipline dose

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, July 6, 2009

The Jharkhand BJP leaders sat like students in the class and tuned in to the stories that national organisational secretary Ramlal read out from the Hitopadesh to teach them the need for discipline and unity in the party.

These stories had an element of interest: scores of party leaders felt Ramlal had chided the party leaders through story telling without involving high ideological note. And after each story, Ramlal asked the party leaders to draw a moral lesson.

"What lesson you draw from the story of a king who announces capital punishment for those who brings the news of demise of the parrot he likes," Ramlal asked the party leaders. The leaders, insides, were quick to draw their conclusion. "I do not know the moral of the story.

I was just trying to correlate it with party affairs and in every story and character I was trying to find Raghuwar Das and Arjun Munda, the two bete noir," a young party MLA kidded. After the two-day meeting of the State BJP working committee concluded on Sunday both the warring groups, one led by State BJP president Raghuwar Das and the other by Arjun Munda, held their separate meetings to analyse the loss and benefit they derived out of this conclave, which was attended by national president of the party Rajnath Singh too.

Das appeared to be standing firm. He seemed to be relishing the sudden rise of his stature in front of Singh, and the other BJP brass stayed silent. Nevertheless, on the first day of the meeting, BJP MLA CP Singh directly hit at Das for running the party on the caste line.

But he largely failed to dim the aura that Das so carefully built around him after the party won eight out of 14 parliamentary seats in Jharkhand. When it came to deliver his presidential address, Singh talked tough about the party discipline and warned the leaders with stern actions for failure to follow the same.

While Das camp interpreted it as a clear indication of Singh's unquestioned believe in the leadership of Das, the Munda camp largely remained reticent. The future course of the State BJP in the view of the coming Assembly election largely remained opaque.

"The reason is that Singh put a blanket over the leadership issue in the State. He gave both the groups enough room to speculate about their fair chance to grab the leadership," a senior party leader said. If there was an immediate outcome of this session, it was a clear polarisation between Munda and Das. The division was not restricted among the top brasses; the rank and file too echoed similar view. Viewing a clear division in the party on this issue, the BJP bosses do not want to give unnecessary hype to the leadership issue.

"There is no crisis of the leadership in the party and will be decided by the parliamentary board of the BJP after the election," Singh told the mediapersons. So far, the BJP has a policy to opt tribal face for the post of Chief Minister and Singh kept everybody in confusion. Leaders have gone; workers are left to muse over the political meaning of the story.

Disconnect
Musing, yawns and three days’ confinement for BJP bosses
Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi

This is bit like having to play the political version of the TV reality show ‘Big Boss’ after the senior BJP leaders on Friday evening locked themselves inside the room of the Holyday Home resort for the next 72 hours.

On 7:20 pm sharp leaders entered the venue and the doors were locked form the inside. The party named this closely guarded exercise as Yojna meeting.

“The office bearers, MPs and MLAs will lead a community life—sit, dine and sleep together—to take stock of the party affairs. There will no break. Leaders have been asked to keep their cell phone switched off, rather to keep it on the silent mode. They have been strictly instructed not to interact with the media about the content and the findings of the meeting even in the future,” authoritative sources in the BJP informed.

The party leader started trickling to the state capital by the Friday evening. The sources in the party said that the state BJP in-charge Karuna Shukla, party organizational secretary Saudan Singh and the party MPs were expected to arrive the state capital by the evening.

The decision to hold such a meeting was kept as a close secret. Even some of the senior party leaders including the former presidents had a wild gaze when they were contacted about the meeting. “I do not know about the meeting…I can not say whose brainchild is this,” a senior party leader said. But a close aide of state organizational secretary Ranjan Patel said that this was Patel who actually chalked out the plan.

But what BJP leaders will discuss in the next 72 hours quite away from the prying eyes of the state media. Have the state BJP bosses indeed sensed trouble ahead that prompted them to such a quarantine exercise.

Officially the party said that the meeting had no such mutinous minutes to discuss. “Everything is okay in the party. The meeting has been called to discuss party’s strategy for the forthcoming elections. There is nothing new in this,” Sanjay Seth, the state spokesperson of the party said.
Another party leader made a value addition into what Seth said about the meeting and said that the leaders would discuss the issue of ticket distribution and how to strengthen the party organization.

“Such meetings are called when it requires a serious overview of the things happening around. It is one of the ways to bridge the communication gap among the leaders,” another party leader said. On the face the BJP has emerged as a jubilant house following its victory in the general elections in Jharkhand and it is quite confident to swing to the power in the state.

But it is quite evident that the senior party leaders including the party state president Raghuwar Das, the party MP and former leader of the opposition Arjun Munda and the former national vice president Yaswant Sinha are not on the same page over the several issues.

On the other hand Karuna Shukla and Ranjan Patel do not enjoy any bonhomie. In the confines of the rooms there will be a great rumbling over the issue of chief ministerial ship. If Das has ever wished to be the ‘Big Boss’ of the game, his own style of functioning will be in the line of fire. Munda camp has amassed enough arsenals to exhaust against Das.

Whether the meeting will yield wine or vinegar will be known in the coming days it has put a bad taste in the mouth of scores of party leaders. “The state unit has divorced itself from the core ideology of the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Attempt should be made to revive the core ideological plank of the party. And, those who claim to be the ideologue (read Ranjan Patel) are behaving like the CNF agent of the RSS controlling the affairs of the party from air conditioned room,” a young party leader having RSS background said.

The central BJP will undertake similar exercise. This muse with debate and several yawns, the ‘Big Boss’ will keep watching it.

Rajnath cautions against off-the-record briefings

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Sunday, July 5, 2009

Pix by Malay Kumar

BJP national president Rajnath Singh; has drawn two important conclusions during his introspection after the party performed so poorly in the general election.

First, the party with the difference--the BJP--has caught the virus of dissidence and off-the-record media briefing from other parties. And, second the election results have brought the country back to bipolar politics which is a good sign for the BJP.

He admitted this in his presidential address on the opening day of the two-day-long working committee meeting of the State BJP on Saturday. Addressing the problems that have besieged the party in the wake of the poor performance in the election; Singh cautioned the party leaders not to brief the media off the record.

“It exposes the fault-line of the party,” he said warning, “anybody found violating the party discipline and briefing the media off the record will have to face disciplinary action.” Singh obliquely asked the aspirants for the post of the chief ministership, in the State BJP, not to waste their energy on such issues. “You take care of the party and the party will take care of you…one of your leaders Karia Munda has been rewarded for his dedication. Example is before you,” Singh said.

Besides reviewing the performance of the party in the elections in Jharkhand and patting the back of the State leadership as reward for “discipline and off-the-record briefing” were the main concerns of Singh. Respect for party leadership and ideology, Singh stressed were the hallmark of the BJP. “The Assembly elections are coming close and we should sink our differences to win the election,” the BJP president said confidently asserting that: “So long as the awareness of the loftiness of our party’s goals lights up our path, we have nothing to worry.”

If Singh doled out the right message among the party leaders, former national vice-president Yaswant Sinha was not present in the meeting to receive this message who had a sent a long angery letter to Singh.

“Yaswant Sinha could not attend the meeting, he is preoccupied with the ‘General Budget’-related preparation of the party, State BJP spokesperson Sanjay Seth said.

Stating that the results of the general election had cast a damper on the aspiration of the party to log on to power at the Centre; Singh was not pessimistic in his admission. After a long time the country has returned to bipolar political system of politics after people elected the two major political parties--the Congress and the BJP--to occupy the Treasury and Opposition bench. “It is a good sign for the BJP and the party will return to power in the coming days. Barring these two parties; the people cut short the size of other political parties which did not get more than 20 seats in elections,” Singh said.

He added later on that: “the BJP is the chosen instrument of the divine to rule the country in the coming days and we should not dampen our spirits if the party did not perform well.” At the conclusion of the meet, Singh addressed a Press conference and reiterated the demand of his party: the dissolution of the Jharkhand Assembly and fresh elections. He hit hard at the Congress for often destabilising the elected Government. “You have the example of Jharkhand and Goa where the Congress toppled the BJP-led Government. It is obvious from the result of the general election in Jharkhand that people are fed up with the UPA’s misrule and they want a change,” Singh said.

Promising that the BJP will act as a constructive opposition Singh said the party will support the Central Government to tackle the menace of Naxalism. The solution should be found at both socio-political and economical level, he said

BJP intensifies anti-VAT move hope for some value addition

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Sunday, June 7, 2009

The State BJP staged a protest demonstration against Value Added Tax (VAT) and tried to ensure a value addition to its politics in the forthcoming Jharkhand State Assembly election.

Scores of BJP leaders staged a dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan and put the garland of vegetables around their neck on Saturday. They criticised the State Government for making the life of the common man miserable by imposing four per cent tax on essential commodities.

The BJP has planned to give a political colour to this issue and once again assured its core constituents - the business community – that the party would carry on and spearhead their fight to its logical end. This was evident from the fact that a large number of BJP leaders participated in Statewide bandh called by the business community against VAT.

The debate over VAT is likely to flare up in the coming days after traders threatened to shut down their business establishments after June 13 if the decision was not revoked by that day. The growing feeling in the Congress is that the BJP’s emotional surcharge over VAT might turn into a lethal weapon against the UPA in the Assembly elections.

The BJP is ready with a couple of slogans like Mahamahim ka tana bana mare garib par bharo khazana and a dozen more will be coined within few days,” a party leader said. BJP leaders are quite unabashed about the strategy they have employed.

From public meetings to banners the BJP plans to move to the villages to arouse the public sentiment. Today, the State BJP bosses will sit together to chalk out a strategy for the anti-VAT movement. The BJP is really looking out for a partner in this game.

Ironically, the common man has not come out against VAT so far, and a bewildered Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) could be seen crying for the public cause.

Both the BJP and the FJCCI are quite concerned that its anti-VAT signature tune has not gained public currency. Congressmen on the other hand are quite confused and divided over the prospect of lending their voice to the anti-VAT cry. Nowhere except in State capital party leaders, under pressure from a contrary constituency, joined the traders. State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu met Governor Syed Sibtey Razi and requested him to find a solution to the problem. “We do not oppose VAT because it is UPA’s brainchild but we have asked the State Government to take some steps so that poor people and common man do not suffer,” Balmuchu said.

For Balmuchu opposing VAT so openly is quite tormenting and tempting. But this is not for the lone Congress MP and Union Minister for Food and Processing Industries Subodhkant Sahay who has made his mind known.

ECI is biased under Navin, says BJP

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Saturday, June 6, 2009

The State BJP president, Raghuwar Das, referred Navin Chawla as the chief election agent of the Congress and the UPA; rather than the Chief Election Commissioner of India.

What provoked Das against Chawla is the decision of the Commission to conduct elections of two RS seats in Jharkhand on June 20, with two separate ballots without preferential system.

Intending a pitch battle against the UPA and the commission Das announced: “Strategy against the decision will be formulated in a high level meeting of the BJP on Saturday.”

Nevertheless, Das did not disclose whether it will be a political battle or a legal battle nor the party State spokesperson Sanjay Seth said any thing about this. “It will be for the first time in the history of India that elections of two RS seats that fell vacant at the same time are conducted with two separate ballots. Chawla has been doing it to ensure the victory of the UPA for both of the seats,” Das said it in his belligerent podium talk with the media at the party headquarter on Friday.

The sources in the party, however, said that the party might explore legal option to slap on the face of the Commission which has adamant to establish bad precedence Jharkhand. What Das told was the repetition of the old complains that he admitted.

“What I am stating today against Chawla was stated by the BJP in the past and by the former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami who found his role quite dubious.”

The BJP once again blamed Chawla for degrading the impartiality of the Election Commission and Das quoted the new method of RS elections in Jharkhand as an example to this. The BJP fears the election will encourage horse trading. “The UPA deliberately chose to keep the assembly under suspended animation to win RS seats.

"It will encourage horse trading since the party whip will not be effective on the MLAs to follow the party line,” Das said. Das blamed commission for defying the established norms. He said, “It never happened in democratic history of the country where RS election of more than one seats could have been held with two separate ballot system.”

The reason of BJP’s anxiety over the decision is self explained. In this election having no provision of second priority vote it will be quite difficult for the NDA combine to retain even one seat. The BJP has refused to buy the argument that both RS seats in Jharkhand fell vacant at two different times and the decision of the Commission was biased.

“Both the seats fell vacant within a gap of one month. Could not Chawla wait for some days to issue election notification for both seats under ‘preferential system?’ Das lashed.

Whether the battle against the Commission will pay the BJP the dividend it requires; it will be known today. But the contenders for tickets have started intense lobbying. The election committee of the party will sit to discuss the name of candidates today. The sources in the party said that besides former RS MP Ajay Maru and Devdas Apte, senior party leader Om Singh and Shekhar Agrawal are vying for the ticket.

“Some more names might come out of the political recycle bin and you can notice that despite the chances to win election are quite low the numbers of contenders are quite high,” an officer bearer of the party said.

Defeated UPA warriors in ticket fray for RS poll

Vijay Deo Jha Ashis Sinha Ranchi Bokaro Friday, June 5, 2009

In this race for tickets for the Rajya Sabha elections; both the Congress and the JMM share similar feature: defeated warriors trying to enter into Parliament through this safe alley.

The three former Congress MPs — Sushila Kerketta, Dhiraj Kuamr Sahu and Furkan Ansari—one who was denied ticket in parliamentary elections and another who lost it marginally; seemingly joined ticket race for RS elections in Jharkhand.

The two other lost faces in the JMM—Hemlal Murmu and Teklal Mahto—are quite keen about their candidature. Hemant Soren the tyounger son of the JMM chief is also in the fray and it is well expected that he will get the party nomination for the same.

About the Congress sources in central Congress confided about the meeting of state president Pradeep Balmuchu with Oscar Fernandis and Ahmed Patel in News Delhi on Thursday morning where they discussed probable party candidates for elections.

“Initially the party will discuss a panel of names of the candidates for two seats and it will be decided later on should the party accommodate the aspiration of the JMM,” a Congress man said The JMM on the other hand will discuss the name of the prospective party candidate on June 7.

The chief whip of the JMM; Mathura Mahto said this during a press conference on Thursday in Bokaro. “The JMM will stake claim of at least one of two Rajya Sabha seats which fell vacant after two upper house members were elected to Lok Sabha. He said: “Talks will be initiated with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners over the election”.

The strategy will be given a final shape on June 10 during the central working committee meeting of the party. Mahto had another pet subject harp to harp on: government formation which he said would be discussed that also. Can such exercise of government formation is feasible in Jharkhand? Within the party a good number of party men doubted Mathura’s claim but they admitted a fresh rumbling among the top party leaders to get party nomination for RS ticket.“Contender number one is Hemlal Mrmu who will be chased by Teklal Mahto…but there are a good number of aspirants and dark horses in the party; see this will be an interesting game,” a party insider said.

But the final decision rests upon the JMM chief Shibu Soren. Murmu who lost from Rajmahal parliamentary constituency is vying for the party ticket. A close confidant of Murmu hoped: “Owing to his seniority and closeness with Shibu Soren he will undoubtedly get party ticket.” Backed by strong Mahto lobby in the JMM Teklal will have a pitched battle with Murmu.

Shift to the Congress house where Kerketta would reasonably demand the party high command to be sympathetic to her. Kerketta who was a sitting MP from Khunti was denied ticket under the pressure of Balmuchu camp. “She is a woman, she was denied ticket and there is a strong lobby in the party that will support her case,” a senior Congress man said.

The state BJP leaders who till yesterday bore elation on their face now fear they might not be able to win any of the seats. Not the numerical strength of the UPA but decision of the Election Commission of India has brought dismay for them. They strongly protest the move of the Election Commission of India to conduct the elections of two seats in two different phases.

A delegation of the BJP leader also met the Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla and demanded the elections of both of the seats at the same time. The assault, consequently, never looked formidable enough. The commission decided to conduct elections of both the seats with two separate ballots.

“Till yesterday, the NDA accused the UPA for turning Jharkhand into a political laboratory…now it is the turn of the ECI to go UPA way and do another experiment on Jharkhand,” a BJP leader bemoaned. “What we can do when if the ECI has taken such a decision; the BJP will fight the election; what else,” state BJP president Raghuwar Das said this.

His combative tone was quite missing. “It is an acceptance of defeat in advance,” this acceptance could so easily have belonged to a BJPman.

BJP gasps in number games for RS election

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Tuesday, June 2, 2009

A delegation of the BJP met Chief Election Commissioner (CEO) Navin Chawla in New Delhi on Monday and demanded him to conduct elections of two vacant seats of Rajya Sabha in Jharkhand against proposed one.

Two seats of Rajya Sabha in Jharkhand became vacant following the victory of the former JD (U) MP Digvijay Singh and Yaswant Sinha from Banka (Bihar) and Hazaribagh parliamentary constituencies respectively.

Speaking over telephone from New Delhi the BJP national vice president Yaswant Sinha who headed the delegation said that they impressed upon CEO not to conduct elections of both of the seats in two different phases.

“It will send a wrong signal that the Commission was doing this to favour a party. There is no logic behind conducting elections of two seats on two different dates if both fell vacant at the same time,” Sinha said.

What transpired in their meeting Sinha said that Chawla assured to take note of their demand. What could be the next course of action of the party if the Commission goes ahead with its plan to conduct election of only one seat, Sinha said, “The BJP will decide the later on.” But well-placed sources in the party said that the party might approach the Supreme Court against the decision.

According to information, notification for the election will be issued on Wednesday. Along with Sinha the state BJP president Raghuwar Das, RS MP SS Ahluwaliya, MP Dhanbad PN Singh, former RS MP Ajay Maru and R. Ramkrishna were in the delegation.

Owing to the reduced strength of the BJP in the assembly it will be difficult for the NDA combine to retain both of the seats. While three of its MLAs were elected in the parliamentary elections another two MLAs resigned previously. Thus, the BJP has the total strength of 24 including suspended MLA Manohar Tekriwal.

If the total strength of the NDA is taken together, including four MLAs of the JD(U), it is 28. NDA might increase its tally by two if AJSU extends its support to the NDA candidate. But the number is not sufficient to sail trough.

To win a seat both the UPA and the NDA allies require 37 votes in a House whose total number has reduced from 81 to 73. The UPA is in comfortable position this time. The UPA combine has 26 MLAs; nine of the Congress and 17 of the JMM. In the number game if UPA manages to persuade its old ally; RJD which has seven MLAs than its total strength will be 33.

The UPA will still require another four votes. Here in number game lays the importance of smaller parties and independent MLAs who will hold the key. Smaller parties like Forward Block, Jharkhand Party and UGDP have two members each in the house. If not sure about Jharkhand Party of Ainosh Ekka than the Congress is quite confident of getting support of these two smaller parties. “Independent MLAs and smaller parties will remain with the UPA and you can predict our victory, please you do it,” a senior Congress leader told confidently.

For the BJP number game is not in its favour. The JD(U), its ally openly questioned the role of the BJP in the defeat of the NDA in the country, and, that of the JD(U) in Jharkhand. The JD(U) might not haggle with the BJP to claim its share only because there are fewer prospects to win.

But, then the BJP is probably hoping for some unexpected turn or a magic to save its seat in an assembly where seemingly impossible things happen, quite unpredictable.

BJP smells rat as only one RS seat goes to poll on June 20

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi June 02

The election for one Rajya Sabha seat in Jharkhand would be held on June 20 with declaration of the result the same day. But the decision of the Election Commission to conduct election of only one seat has surprised the State BJP. The party might explore legal options too.A delegation of BJP leaders will meet the Chief Election Commissioner; Navin Chawla on Monday to express their concern. The delegation will consist of Yaswant Sinha, State BJP president Raghuwar Das, Karia Munda, Arjun Munda and PN Singh.Sources in the State election department informed that a notification in this regard will be issued on June 3 and nominations for the same can be filed till June 10 which will be scrutinised the next day. The Commission had issued a Press note on May 27 but it remained silent about when to conduct the election of another seat.Two seats of Rajya Sabha in Jharkhand became vacant following the victory of Digvijay Singh and Yaswant Sinha from Banka (Bihar) and Hazaribagh parliamentary constituencies, respectively.Speaking over telephone Sinha said: “Only the commission can explain the logic behind conducting elections of two vacant seats on two different dates.”

The moment a Rajya Sabha member is elected in parliamentary election; his/her membership of Rajya Sabha is automatically terminated, Sinha informed.Nevertheless, an official of the State election department said it was necessary for a RS member to submit resignation following his/her election in parliamentary election.

In the case of Digvijay Singh, he had submitted his resigantion from his Rajya Sabha seat before filing his nomination as an independent from Banka.The BJP termed it a deliberate attempt of the Commission to help the Congress win both the seats. “It will be, however, difficult for the Congress to win both the seats if elections for both the seats are conducted the same day,” a senior BJP leader said.Sinha also termed the election politically unethical and morally wrong. The Congress has deliberately kept the Assembly under suspended animation to extract political mileage like managing RS seats, he said.

Sinha further raised objection over the fairness of such elections when five of the MLAs of the Assembly have been elected in parliamentary elections and other three seats are vacant.

Will outsider take on Jharkhand RS mantle again?

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, June 1, 2009

The thought of their party high commands again imposing an outsider and political refugee upon them to fill up two vacancies in the Raya Sabha from Jharkhand is troubling the leaders of the State Congress and the BJP.

Nevertheless, State heavyweights of the UPA who lost elections are trying their best to enter into Parliament once more by getting nomination for the Rajya Sabha. Furkan Ansari, Dhiraj Kuamr Sahu of the Congress and Hemlal Murmu of the JMM are nourishing ambitions to recoup the loss they suffered in the Lok Sabha poll.

However, their clamour may turn to whisper when the decision of their party high command comes in favour of such candidates who have no relation with Jharkhand. "We have not decided the name of the party candidates for RS election. I will soon go to Delhi and request the party high command, Soniaji, to give preference to local faces in filling the two seats," State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu insisted.

The BJP leaders have not discussed about party candidate for the nomination. "See what happens. Such things are decided by the election committee of the party. It is too early to guess or predict," State BJP spokesperson Sanjay Seth informed monosyllabically. A good number of party leaders admit in their private discourses that such MPs seldom become an asset for the party.

"Burden is a good word," quipped a BJP leader, "because they get their nomination from New Delhi they never come to Jharkhand; never mingle with people or party worker."

Take a look at the number of Rajya Sabha MPs from Jharkhand and the reason for their anxiety will be known. Out of six, four MPS are outsiders, including two MPs ---Yaswant Sinha and Digvijay Singh --- who got elected to Lok Sabha.

BJP MP SS Ahluwalia, a Sikh born and brought up in Asansol, is married to a Bengali and speaks Bengali fluently but never had any role in Bengal politics. He was accommodated in Jharkhand.

When was he seen last time in Ranchi? "It was February 28, this year, when he came along with BJP leader Sushma Swaraj," another senior party leader said in a defensive note. How many questions has he raised about Jharkhand and how much fund could ensure for the developmental projects? "I do not know," exclaimed the same leader.

Nevertheless the website of the Rajya Sabha says that he has raised good number of questions in the Upper House about Jharkhand. Similarly, Congress MP Mabelo Rebello of Goan descent born in Udupi and close to the Goan border with Karnataka, has no connections, even remote, with Jharkhand and its soil. She has been quite shy of asking Jharkhand-centric question in the House.

She is an articulate, seasoned and spirited parliamentarian. When was she seen in Jharkhand? "Last year she had come for a few days…after that we do not know," said a Congress leader. They are obviously assets to their respective parties but do not have any mass base to fall back on election to the Lok Sabha.

JD(U) MP Digvijay Singh on the other hand concentrated more upon his home State Bihar. The BJP, however, corrected this anomaly in the last year RS elections by fielding Jayaprakash Singh, a leader of the State unit of the party. The Congress had no nominee but the party made its choice known for its New Delhi based leader RK Anand, who contested as an independent and lost.

The result of the RS election held last year sprang no surprise. An unknown face, but a business tycoon of Reliance Industries; Parimal Nathwani managed to win as an independent. Those who till yesterday never gave their lungs a rest calling themselves champion of the State had no qualm to vote for him. The JMM was the most.

Nevertheless, Nathwani often tries to make his presence felt through customary Press communiqué and an odd number of development projects for the State capital. His public relation officer, Iqubal Saba maintains that unlike others Nathwani was serious about bringing a change.

Political parties themselves can scarcely be absolved of their responsibility for the failure to groom people who tower over others. If they don't, outsiders will continue to represent the State in national politics. Political refugees, pigeons will again look for a platform in Jharkhand.

RK Anand stumbles on media queries

Angery for being exposed Pix by Mukesh Bhatt

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, June 29, 2009

Jharkhand Olympic Association's president RK Anand's momentary lapse of cool during a media briefing on Sunday afternoon made jarring contrast with a lawyer whose arguments are being lauded even by critics as deft: heads-I-win-tails-you-lose act.

Pressed to answer pinching questions about the alleged irregularities in the functioning of the JOA in conducting the 34th National Games and the spate of media reports in the last couple of months about the involvements of its officials in laundering public money, Anand was barely able to defend his clients, S.M. Hashmi and Madhukar Pathak, the secretary and treasurer of JOA respectively.

However, he rather remained agitated during the Press conference and occasionally kicked the State media for maligning the good name of Jharkhand and JOA by its imprecision and biased reporting. Anand initially lauded the media and said, "Jharkhand was selected as the venue of the National Games due to the support of the State media." But the lawyer took a wrong plea when he pilloried the State media for creating a mess.

The visit of Anand drew much significance after an FIR was filed against Hashmi and Pathak in Ranchi, alleging the duo for misappropriating funds of the JOA, on Saturday.

And, Anand himself admitted that he was forced to intervene in this matter and give the media a correct briefing of all these things media had called: the Press conference to douse the fire after several other members of the JOA and sports personalities of the State raised finger at them. There was a time when Anand admitted the need to correct the functioning of the JOA.

Reacting vehemently, Anand quickly gave the bona-fide certificates to his office-bearers and shifted their alleged load of sin on those who were trying to terrorise Hashmi and Pathak to get a control over the JOA. "I can tell you 101 things about the FIR. This is a case of fabrication of documents and situation," Anand assailed, but chose not to react whether he would prefer an impartial inquiry of these allegations.

"If there is a misappropriation of the government fund as alleged, it is up for the State Government to institute inquiry. Some others are doing this job with a vested interest," Anand dismissed the enormity of the case. If Anand had this untenable plea it hardly covered the gray area of the functioning of the JOA where transparency never exits even in token.

Anand had a tough time answering the media which wanted to know how come the Indian Olympic Association and Jharkhand Olympic Association allowed a group of people having no connection with sport to occupy more than six and seven posts in different sports association that has been associated with JOA.

"There is no bar in the constitution of the IOA that could prevent a person from occupying such posts," Anand told in a convincing tone and cited the example of Jammu & Kashmir.

Anand had done his homework well but the media caught him unprepared where his eloquence shabbily failed. The general election of the JOA will be held on July 2 at Maithan, Dhanbad, and Anand is sure to contest it. Questions have been raised over his decision on the ground of his conviction in BMW case in Delhi. "Under People's Representation Act there is no bar on me to contest election; my case does not fall in that category where a person is barred from contesting elections," Anand claimed. He cited the example of Kalyan Singh; he quoted the case of the former Prime Minister Narsimha Rao and many other who were convicted but fought the election.

"When you will speak in the legal term I will answer legally, it is quite obvious," Anand retorted, but forgot to make a distinction between the 'play and the politics.' There are many who raised objection over the venue of the election.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a member of the JOA did not rule out the possibility of the use of the dirty department to win the election. "It will be known that day but we are yet not provided with the electoral roll for the election which itself a matter of concern," a member of the JOA said.

Whether Anand in his effort to refurbish the image of the JOA got success or not but he will probably be able to turn to the IOA and say he doled the right message out and things are under control and games can be conducted in the month of November. The date will not fail this time, he pledged.