Rahul's visit postponed, State Cong leaders struggle to convince workers

Vijay Deo Jha RANCHI Tuesday, April 22, 2008

RanchiThe last time change made in the scheduled Jharkhand visit of Rahul Gandhi, the general secretary of the Congress, has put the State leaders in jittery. It has left the Congress leaders to come out with suitable plea to convince the party workers.The office of the Congress at Sradhanand Marg bore a deserted look and the senior party leaders, including its spokesperson, were seen discussing the matter. A senior party leader said that the State leaders made last time attempt to convince the central leadership not to drop the programme.From the last fortnight the State leaders were working round the hour to make this programme a success. Now, Gandhi will visit Jharkhand and Bihar next month, said the party sources.While confirming the report, the sources in the New Delhi said that instead Jharkhand, Rahul would be visiting Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgadh. Gandhi has been touring the country under the discovery of India programme to know the country and its people which his adversaries termed an uncouth mimic of Mahatma Gandhi.According to the plan Rahul had to arrive in Jharkhand on April 23 where he was slated to visit Chaiwasa, Gumla and Khuti. Although the State president of Congress, Pradeep Balmucchu, said the visit programme existed separately and it had nothing to do with the party and organisation. But it is learnt that Rahul had to take stock of the party in the state.Explaining the reason behind the last time change in the programme Alok Kumar Dubey, spokes person, state Congress agreed that it has dampened the spirit of the party workers but it does not mean that the Rahul has no interest in Jharkhand. While indicating the visit of the Prime Minister to the state on April 22 as a possible reason behind the last minute change in the programme of Rahul, he said that there should have been a gap of one month in the visit of the two top party leaders.The visit of PM would indeed enliven the party workers. The effect would maximise when Rahul would visit the state next month. It might have send a wrong signal if the two top leaders visit the state in connection to two different programmes, said a top leader of the party.The highly placed sources gave a different version of the story and said that the State Congress announced the date of the arrival of Rahul on assumption without consulting the central leadership. As per the official version of the party, the party would have to wait for another month for the visit of Rahul who would come after a gap of eight years.

BJP gears up to oppose PM's visit

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, April 21, 2008

The State BJP will oppose Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit. They have decided to protest the visit on two issues: Central Mining Policy and the unbridled price rise. Leader to Opposition and senior BJP leader Arjun Munda announced the opposition of the PM's visit.The PM is scheduled to visit Jharkhand on April 22 and will visit Bokaro and Jamshedpur in connection to Tata Steel's centenary programme. The BJP high command has asked the State top leaders to protest against the PM's visit at all the three places. The party would chalk out its strategy on April 21.While highlighting the negative aspects of the Mining Policy, Munda said that the Central Government did not consider the genuine demand and suggestions of the Chief Ministers of the States of Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh and Orrisa. The economic and social concerns of these states were pooh-poohed during the formulation of the policy. If the policy were implemented, Jharkhand would not only lose its due share but may turn into a poaching ground of the private companies, he said.At a time when the Government should have pondered over the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation Act) 1957, to suit the federal structure of the country, the Prime Minister was doing reverse, he said.He further said the PM was guided by a distinct and alien vision, which was anti federal as well as anti-Jharkhand. He wanted to know the reason that stopped the Union Government from implementing Ad Valorem in mining policy as well as in the State despite recommendations made in this regard by the Planning Commission of India.Munda cornered the Prime Minister on his failure to arrest price hike and feared that the State might turn into another Vidharbha. While lampooning the PM for his Manmohnic-omics, he said the price index of the last one-month was a sufficient reminder of the fact that the UPA Government failed to provide an effective administration.

Rebels in BJP bring political bete noire of party close

Vijay Deo JhaRANCHI Tuesday, April 8, 2008

The BJP rebels headed by Raghubar Das, former State BJP president, might have failed to dislodge Arjun Munda and Pasupati Nath Singh, but it surprisingly ended the cold war between the two political bete noires, Munda and the senior party leader and former Foreign Minister, Yashwant Sinha. It is learnt that Sinha had played a crucial role in diffusing the tension and saved the day for Munda. Although, Munda declined to say that the party was in the crisis due to the said move of the rebels. He hinted that personal grievances should not be aired at public forums. Talking about this new formed relationship, Munda said that he was ready to join hands with any body for the interest of the party. Yet, he said diplomatically that they have decided to forge a reciprocal relationship to strengthen the party in the State. The indication of this bonhomie came when both the leaders were seen together during the felicitation of some 10 newly elected councillors of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation. Interestingly, both Munda and Sinha were not seen together in any public forum from the last many months. If the sources are to be believed, Munda promised to take care of the interest of Sinha in the State politics during a luncheon. While commenting upon this a senior party leader said that in view of the coming elections, Sinha did not want to antagonise Munda and PN Singh since their removal from the party post was not possible. But his support to Munda was not without a political price. However, within the State BJP, it is being interpreted as a win win situation for Munda in making Sinha to realise his political importance in the State politics. But, how long this situation prevails is yet to be assessed. For the time being both the camps find no problem in keeping each other in good humour. The Munda camp was suspicious of the sudden interest of Sinha in the politics of the State which was seen by the Munda camp as a move to project Sinha for the post of the next Chief Minister of the State. But their known differences came to fore during the padyatra before Simaria by-election where Sinha advocated the need of a non-tribal Chief Minister for the State. Quickly reacting to it, the BJP stalwart Kailashpati Mishra denied this possibility. The statement of Sinha was held responsible for the poor performance of party in the election.

Party breather for PN Singh, Munda

Party breather for PN Singh, Munda
Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, April 7, 2008

A plot by 14 rebel BJP legislators in Jharkhand to remove PN Singh from the post of State party president and Arjun Munda as leader of the Opposition appears to have been scuttled. The MLAs led by Raghubar Das, former State president and MLA (Jamshedpur East), met national BJP president Rajnath Singh and senior leader LK Advani in New Delhi. The MLAs apprised them how dedicated party workers were being ignored by the Arjun Munda-PN Singh combine. The rebel legislators comprised Raghubar Das, Chhatruram Mahto, Yogeswar Mahto, Ramchandra Baitha, Loknath Mahto, Putkar Hembram, Nilkanth Singh Munda, Koche Munda, Sameer Oraon, Chandresh Oraon and Ashok Bhagat.This has given reprieve to Munda camp, though both Munda and Singh did not reveal much about the controversy. Highly placed sources, however, said that the Munda camp had prior information about the move by these MLAs. Relying on its own sources, the BJP was not ready to believe the report of State intelligence which said these MLAs were staying at the Tata guesthouse from where they were expected to move to Delhi via Dhanbad. The Munda camp managed to meet senior party leaders, including Advani and Venkaiah Naidu, before the rebels could meet them at a meeting that lasted for 50 minutes. Although, what transpired in the meeting is still not clear, but it is learnt that Advani was apprised of Das' role in fomenting factionalism within the party.The rebel camp did not propose the name of any person for the post of State president. But the names of Ashok Bhagat for the party president and Das as the leader of the Opposition were being mentioned.Munda, who is still camping in Delhi, said that such removal could take place only if it was demanded by district unit presidents.