Buoyed with splendid performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has now set its eye on the year-end Assembly polls in the State. The party has planned to maintain winning streak, setting a target to win 60 to 65 seats in the Assembly election.
Last week, Chief Minister Raghubar Das asked the party leaders and cadres not to defuse their energy, but to start preparing for year-end Assembly elections. The Chief Minister asked the BJP cadres to prepare for Assembly elections starting with preparation of a road map for elections. Booth-level core committee meetings are to be held for the same. The BJP cadres have also been asked to work so that people gets benefits of Modi Government.
Meanwhile, Mahagathbandhan—constituents of four parties — is still to recover from shocking defeat, is in a quandary, introspecting whether to go in alliance or ‘Ekla Chalo’ (walk alone) in Assembly elections.
At the two-day JMM central committee meet held on Saturday and Sunday, differences cropped up between party leaders and MLAs over fighting the elections alone or going with alliance. Sources said that at JMM central committee meet, some of the leaders pointed out that in Lok Sabha elections, Congress, JVM (P) and RJD fail to transfer their traditional votes for JMM candidates. Sources said that some of the JMM leaders even raised the issue that by remaining with Congress alliance, JMM was not benefitted but even lost its core voters.
However, JMM general secretary, Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “The party is yet to decide whether to go in alliance or contest independently. The decision will be taken after consultation with senior leaders and party members. At present the party is focused on strengthening its base.”
The advantage with JMM is that through the party is to decide on alliance, but the party has started preparations for Assembly elections. The JMM senior leaders, in past fortnight, have met twice during the legislature party meet and central party meet was held. The JMM has also stated that if the party goes for alliance then they will play the role of big brother this time.
The Congress which had played the role of big brother in Lok Sabha elections is still to recover from parliamentary elections debacle. Last week, the infighting between two Congress fractions came to fore at State party office at Shardanand Road. One group allegedly supported by former Ranchi MP and senior State Congress leader, Subodh Kant Sahay demanded the removal of Congress State president Ajoy Kumar while other group was in favour of retaining Ajoy Kumar as State Congress chief.
A senior Congress leader requesting anonymity said, “The present State Congress lacks coordination among party leaders. State Congress head is supposed to have interaction with even ground level workers, but Ajoy Kumar lacks the skill.”
The leader further said, “Ajoy Kumar is dummy State Congress chief as the party is being looked by State Congress in-charge, RPN Singh. We are seriously worried about party’s future in State.” The party is still in doldrums whether to go in alliance or follow lone path.
However, State Congress spokesperson, Lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo said, “The Congress State in-charge RPN Singh has sought feedback from all district presidents whether to have an alliance or contest independently. Once the party gets feedback the party will decide on future course of action.”
The situation of two other constituents-JVM (P) and RJD is worse. The RJD after rout in Jharkhand dissolved its State unit appointing Abhay Singh as new state RJD president but the old committee is yet to accept new leadership. The RJD new committee on Sunday held a meeting but only handful of senior leaders attended the meet.
In JVM (P) differences has cropped up between JVM(P) president Babulal Marandi and party general secretary Pradeep Yadav after LS debacle. Both Marandi and Yadav contested the election from Koderma and Godda seat respectively but both the candidates lost to BJP.