No take off for Teklal in Giridih, fuel seems to be exhausting
Vijay Deo Jha
Ranchi / Giridih

Giridih is one of the seats in Jharkhand where the BJP is sure about the victory of its candidate Ravindra Kumar Pandey. Courtesy, the anti-incumbency factor against the JMM candidate of the UPA combine Teklal Mahto who wrested this traditional seat of the BJP by defeating Pandey in the last general election 2004.
The constituency will go for poll on coming Thursday where contest is mainly triangular among Pandey, Mahto and Dr. Saba Ahmed of the JVM of Babulal Marandi. There are 1346320 voters.

Teklal has a tough time to explain the constituents for neglecting this starved constituency where problems are legions. From the past one month, Teklal who mainly concentrated in the rural belt has been trying to reason with the voters and hopes people will favour him. “I am aware of their problems and in the last five years I started several developmental projects to benefit the people,” Mahto told ‘The Pioneer.’

“From the last one month he has been shuttling in Giridih to seek support of the voters. As far as the development of this constituency is concerned just move around the area and you will know it,” Jyoti Mehta, a resident of Giridih town said. This sentiment is travelling across other assembly constituencies of Giridih where road exists nowhere and power remains off.

But so far he could not stop the BJP from taking edge over him where the three times MP Pandey has strengthen his hold over the voters.

Besides anti-incumbency factor what probably helps the BJP in the fight is the fractured UPA index. In the last general election Pandey was pitted against a formidable UPA coalition adding to it was the fact that the BJP was not able to turn its core urban middle class voters to the booth to counter it.

The biggest burden of Mahto is to retain Kurmi-Mahto vote back in his favour. But he will hardly be able to get their vote en block this time. Besides Mahto there are three other contenders of kurmi-Mahto vote—the BJP and the independent Indradev Mahto who has the backing of Lalchand Mahto of the Bahujan Sadan Morcha. Lalchand has a strong hold over this section of the voter particularly in Dumri and Bagodar assembly constituencies. In the last election Indradev had came third.

Problem does not end for Teklal here. The RJD has fielded Humayun Ansari, backward Muslim candidate whereas the JVM of Babulal Marandi has pressed Saba Ahamad in the electoral battle to garner the Muslim votes which otherwise went to Teklal in the last election. Although, Muslim voters here are politically aware and they decide their move a day before the election depending upon who can defeat the BJP. There are 265000 Muslim voters who had helped the JMM in giving a stunning defeat to the BJP by a margin of 149794 votes.

Each RJD and JVM stroke is music to the BJP which is confident the division of Muslim votes will help its candidate. The BJP already controls Gomia and Bermo assembly constituencies represented by its MLA Chatruram Mahto and Yogeswar Mahto in the state assembly.

To fight this oddity Teklal counts upon the traditional tribal vote bank of the party. But in this fight Teklal is alone. The JMM chief Shibu Soren is not able to campaign in his support. Aklu Ram Mahto of the CPI has also set an eye over the tribal vote of the JMM whereas a section of the party workers close to Durga Soren, son of Shibu who are determined to teach Teklal a lesson.

Teklal and his likes might have only election problem to face; voters have some more to face on the election day. One out of many of their problems is the naxal problem. Naxals have given the call to boycott the election. Barring Baghmara assembly constituency the remaining five—Dumri, Gomia, Bermo Giridih and Tundi are known as red terror zone. No party and candidate even dared to venture in Nawadih block of Bermo where no party flags flutter; no political talk even in whisper. Only red flags and liberation theology are allowed.

Shibu ill, sons spar at will

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi ELECTION Tuesday, April 7, 2009 National Page

There’s much rumbling within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). To be precise, within its chief Shibu Soren aka Guruji’s family!

As an ailing Shibu convalesces in the hospital, a war of succession is on between his sons, Durga and Hemant, to fill up the void and take control of the party, which is without a defined second line of leadership. Just days away from the first phase of election in the State, it has not only cast a shadow on the fate of the party but also its ally, the Congress.

Shibu thus has two formidable challenges on hand: To repeat the JMM’s success story of 2004 in this general election (keeping its alliance with the Congress intact) without his active involvement and decide his heir apparent without creating much dissent.

The war of succession, JMM insiders said, intensified after Shibu’s defeat in the Tamar Assembly byelection on January 8 this year. It has now reached a crescendo. “Elder brother Durga, however, seems to be losing out to Hemant. The younger brother has not only been involved in party affairs but also has the backing of party’s two senior-most MPs, Hemlal Murmu and Teklal Mahto, besides Shibu. But the JMM cadre are confused without Shibu, who is undoubtedly the only crowd puller for his party,” they said.

Both Durga and Hemant have had their share of defeats in the last Assembly elections but the former has already queered the pitch for the Congress, with which the JMM has an alliance in the State. First, he threatened to put up candidates on all the 14 seats and then went on to file his nomination from Godda (where the Congress has fielded its sitting MP Furkan Ansari), ignoring the pleas of everyone, including Shibu.

To him, the JMM’s UPA allies had conspired against his father to ensure his defeat in the Tamar byelection. He now wants to avenge it.

Shibu, however, was quick to issue a denial: “Durga is not the JMM candidate. The party has no plans to field him from Godda, nor has he been given the party symbol.”

Durga is also sore with the Congress and holds it responsible for “using” Shibu. He wanted his father to be re-installed as the Chief Minister before the poll. The Congress reacted by ignoring him. Its State in-charge K Keshav Rao then involved Hemant in the seat-sharing talks. While the Congress, with six sitting MPs, is contesting seven seats, the JMM -- with four sitting MPs -- is contesting five seats. The RJD has tied up with the LJP in the State.

The Congress announced that a JMM-led Government would be installed in Jharkhand soon after the UPA returns to power at the Centre. Durga felt Shibu was fooled yet again.

On many occasions, Durga had spoken against his own partymen in general and Hemant in particular. “Hemant to bachcha hai, usko party ke hi kuch senior log misguide kar rahe hain (Hemant is still a kid. Some party leaders are misguiding him),” he says. His associates point to Hemlal Murmu and Teklal Mahto, the duo that had grabbed the centrestage after compelling the Congress to install the JMM-led Government in Jharkhand in lieu of its support to the UPA during the trust vote last year.

Adding a new dimension to the war between the siblings are leaders like former Deputy Chief Minister and Kurmi leader Sudhir Mahto, who too nurses the ambition of heading the party. An ever-widening Kurmi-Adivasi divide in the party is also a cause for concern. The killing of a number of Kurmi leaders, including former JMM MP Sunil Mahto, has only widened the divide.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/167760/Shibu-ill-sons-spar-at-will.html

Durga set to take revenge from Cong for Tamar fiasco

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi RANCHI Thursday, April 9, 2009 Front Page

The last date to withdraw nomination papers has lapsed and Durga Soren is still in the fray. The estranged UPA partners in Jharkhand — the Congress and the JMM — have charted different courses though without making any announcement of their formal divorce.

Durga Soren is yet another episode in the love-hate chemistry of the shaky UPA coalition. The eldest son of JMM supremo Shibu Soren refused to withdraw his nomination from Godda as the official candidate of the party stating that he was determined to avenge on the Congress the defeat of his father in the Tamar Assembly bypoll.

The decision has left the state Congress shocked. "We want the JMM chief to give his final word over this issue immediately. The JMM is left with two options: either to disown Durga as the JMM candidate or to reconsider its relation with the Congress," the State Congress incharge K Keshav Rao said.

The Congress is ready to grill the JMM and Shibu Soren over several points that went into the making of Durga as the official candidate of the party despite a letter written by the former to the chief electoral officer on last Saturday stating Durga was not among the party candidates who were given party symbols to fight the elections.

Hazaribagh and Koderma, where both the combines agreed for a friendly fight, are altogether a different case from Godda which is a battle of hatred. JMM chief Shibu Soren has been constantly reminding that the party had a poll pact with the Congress but that failed to impress Durga.

His decision must have left Congress nominee from Godda Furkan Ansari fuming as to what role he played in the defeat of Shibu, when the former was not in the picture at all in Tamar bypoll. But one of the close aides of Durga said that it was Furkan, who virtually blocked the road of Shibu at a time when he was quite unwilling to contest from Tamar. Soren had made his choice for Jamtara that could have been a safe bet for him, but that could not happen due to strong opposition from Furkan.

On Wednesday; the last day of the withdrawal of the nomination; the wary Congress leader in Godda and in the State capital anxiously waited for Durga to withdraw his nomination. But he better thought to execute his oath to route the Congress in Godda probably unaware of the gloomy poll prospect of his own party in the poll.

"Godda is no Jharkhand and there are other constituencies where the JMM needs the support of the Congress to win," Furkan fired an angry riposte over the whole fuss. If not directly then indirectly, Furkan told that Jamtara Assembly constituency falls within Godda where Guruji has filed his nomination paper to reoccupy the post of Jharkhand's Chief Minister that he lost after facing electoral discomfiture in Tamar.

In the past one month, the seat-sharing exercise of the UPA took several curious turns but Durga puzzled the Congress most. Only on Tuesday, the JMM and the Congress jointly stated confirming Durga has fallen in line and he would withdraw from the fray. The agitated Furkan curtly described it the conspiracy of 'father and son' who speak and act differently on the face but share same thought.

"If Durga is their candidate," as Shibu said, "then he (Shibu) must explain how Durga managed the party symbol. Shibu should lodge a criminal case against his errant son for obtaining signed nomination documents," Furkan contended.

The returning officer of Godda has already rejected the contention of the Congress where it claimed that Durga filed nomination without the consent of his party. Confirmation letter to his candidature was soon dispatched to the office of the returning officer before the hearing.

Guruji is no Gandhiji: unhappy days again in the JMM

Vijay Deo Jha

Ranchi


The JMM chief Shibu Soren, aka Guruji is no Gandhiji.

For the British they could not prevail upon Mahatma Gandhi to accept the ‘post date cheque on a crashing bank’ of the Cripps Mission. And 67 years later, the Congress easily prevailed upon Guruji that a JMM led government would be ‘installed’ in Jharkhand soon after the UPA comes back to the power after the general elections 2009.

Nevertheless, similarity between that ‘Cripps deal’ and this Congress deal is remarkably tough but it is a ‘just’ reference point to proceed how Soren believed this promise which is still not taken very seriously by the Congress insiders.
Guruji will contest the by-election from Jamtara assembly constituency hoping to head the next JMM government. The JMM announced to join the Congress led UPA wagon in Jharkhand in the forth coming general elections.
But unhappy days are here again in the JMM. The JMM insiders are now whispering: after Tamar the Congress again fooled Guruji. “He has always been a gullible customer for the Congress…he lost the chance to pressurize the Congress to install the JMM led government for which he suffered humiliation and mud slinging” said a senior party leader.

“The deal has been done and that too on the paper that the JMM led government in Jharkhand will be installed after the UPA comes to power”, the chief whip of the party Mathura Mahto announced this week.

It brought relief for the Congress which was wary about the electoral pact with the JMM that it fear might sink if the Congress did make a solid promise to Soren in this regard.


The decision left such a bitter taste in the mouth of that yours truly—Mathura Mahto who was virtually forced to change his hard line against the Congress. But Mahto conceded the continuous change in stand; thrice in a day; can not help any party and politician to gain credibility.

Mahto neither talked about that deal whose fate largely depends upon the performance of the UPA in the election nor he spoke about Soren. Yet what he said is easy to comprehend.

Mahto was one among the JMM hardliners along with another party MLA Salkhan Soren who wanted the party to adopt a tough posture and even go to the elections on its own. The group had the support of Durga Soren, son of the JMM chief and party’s general secretary.

Is Guruji in the command of the things in the party after he lost by-election of Tamar? The party insiders told that Guruji was deliberately being overshadowed by two of his MPs Hemlal Murmu and Teklal Mahto over crucial decisions.
The Congress sources confided that the JMM MPs who did want a rupture in relation with the Congress at the time of election were more active to go for the deal.

“The Congress has just applied balm over the injured sentiment of the JMM to fight election together and there is nothing beyond that”, said a senior Congress leader and MLA.
“The formation of the JMM led government is very remote and how you can strike a deal of this kind without consulting the independent MLAs who actually hold the key”, the leader further said.

If not Hemant Soren, his elder Durga understands this. “Kaun sa deal aur kisa deal, ye deal kya baba (Guruji) ne kiya hai”, Durga reacted sharply against his own party leaders; read Hemlal Murmu and Teklal Mahto.

Terming it propaganda by his own party men to remove Guruji from the scene Durga said: “The Congress and some others are trying to sell this dream but even if the JMM forms the government we will have less time to show our work as the assembly elections of Jharkhand will be held the next year.”
Will Guruji hear Durga in the post Tamar fiasco?

EoM
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BJP cedes Chatra, Palamu to JD(U)

Rajiv/Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi March 21, 2009

In the LS seat-sharing exercise in Jharkhand; the bully JD(U) finally snatched two parliamentary seats - Palamu and Chatra - from the unwilling BJP.

Soon after the electronic media started flashing this "really breaking news", headquarters of the State BJP soon descended in the gloom and the visibly upset party workers were not ready to stomach this deal.

The BJP has now been left with only one seat - Koderma - out of remaining three. It has already declared names of 11 seats but before it could announce for the rest the JD(U) started clamouring for its share; not less than six.

"The party workers are sad over this decision," BJP organisational secretary Ganesh Mishra expressed the feelings of the party workers at a Press conference. Mishra also appealed the BJP bosses to reconsider the decision. "But such decisions are never taken to be reconsidered," a senior State BJP leader offered a reality bite.

The trouble is indeed brewing in the BJP over this decision as far as Chatra is concerned. BJP MLA from Chatra Satyanand Bhokta raised the banner of revolt. "You can not decide the fate of the party while sitting in New Delhi…the JD(U) has no base in Chatra, it is BJP's constituency and the vote that Inder Singh Namdhari got here in the last election was that of him," Bhokta told the media persons. He threatened to resign from the party, along with the party office-bearers of Chatra BJP, if the decision was not reviewed.

Top BJP leaders maintained silence. State BJP president Raghuwar Das conspicuously avoided media calling him over telephone. "He holds similar sentiment with the party workers," a close aide of Das informed.

"I am not aware of the development…once I reach Bhopal I will be able to make comment," the senior BJP leader and State election incharge Sushma Swaraj said over telephone from a remote village of Madhya Pradesh.

Only two days back the most vociferous JD(U) leaders suddenly got reticent over the deal; they got two instead six. "No comment before final outcome…let official announcement come first," said State JD(U) president Jaleswar Mahto. State JD(U)vice-president Aftab Jamil still chose to speak in a combative political lingo. "Ham gathbandhan dharma ka samman karte hai," Jamil told The Pioneer. But the later half of his statement indicated bad omen would stay in Jharkhand NDA. "But a good number of party leaders want the party to contest six seats…see what happens," Jamil said conspiratorially.

On the other hand another vice-president of the party Krishnanad Mishra maintained the tone of NDA unity and said that both the parties will fight elections under the NDA banner. He was so much praise for Mahto that he termed him as a valiant leader who snatched two seats from the jaw of the BJP.

However, Mahto is still feeling defeated since he could not persuade the BJP as well as his own party leaders to get Dhanbad for himself where he wished to contest. The exercise is not over for the JD(U). The party is in search of suitable candidates. The JD(U) sources said that the party would field MLA Radhakrishna Kishore from Palamu where as it could field Madhu Singh in Chatra. But the State stalwart - Namdhari who till a day back was the known nominee of the BJP for Chatra would chart out his move well within a day, sources close to him told.

The BJP insiders confided that the BJP workers from Chatra and Palamu during an election meeting with party state president this week expressed their willingness to fight election here alone with sufficient indication of stormy days ahead if the party indeed ceded these the constituencies to the JD(U ).

But what could State BJP leaders do over this, it was not their decision after all; they sat together to mourn the decision at the party office breaking their ranks.

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

Soren wary as voters are silent: Tough fight ahead

Vijay Deo Jha reports from Tamar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

65th birthday gift brings down Soren

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Search for next Jharkhand CM on

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The giant killer

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

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

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

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

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

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

BJP takes battle to Guv House

BJP calls Jharkhand bandh against police brutality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monster who finished Soren Picture by Mukesh

Lonely standing on boundry line

Soren loses But opts to remain in power game

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hopefuls plan to keep celebrations low-profile

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Thursday, January 8, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

High turnout in Maoist villages

Vijay Deo Jha Tamar Tuesday, January 6, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tamar poll peaceful

Soren's fate will be known by Tuesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clamour for Raja banter for Soren

As Tamar goes to poll, charges spawn rumours

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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