With over one month-long wait for the Judgement Day coming to an end, all eyes are set on strongrooms that hold the key to the fate of dozens of leaders of the State, including two former chief ministers — Shibu Soren and Babulal Marandi.
The mood in the BJP camp, shored up by the exit polls predictions was expectedly euphoric while a pall of gloom has already descended at the Congress Bhawan. “Firstly, Modi-Modi chant and now the exit polls being shown by the media — we are finding it tough to keep our workers and poll agents motivated enough,” lamented a Congress leader who was sitting at the somber looking State party headquarter on the penultimate day of May 16.
leaving apart a few vehicles no big name from the party was present. It is a complete contrast from the BJP office, not more than five kilometers away from the former.“The office and Ranchi would not have seen such a celebration previously. We are preparing for that.” This is upbeat Ranchi MlA CP Singh who along with party’s minority cell’s Kamal Khan and others closely monitoring the making of thousands of laddoos as if a barrat is going to come at the place.Confident BJP State chief Ravindra Rai left for Koderma to focus of his own candidature from the seat. He would remain there whole day and keep a close watch at the results. “The party has made a control room and he would remain present there with senior leaders and workers in Koderma. At Ranchi groups of trained agents have been readied and sent to counting place,” said BJP general secretary Anant Ojha.
Nevertheless, the Congress has gone ahead and setup a ‘control room’ at the party office where inputs coming from all over the State would be assimilated and observed. Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat has directed all the district presidents for providing proper trainings to the workers and agents before dispatching them for the counting booths. “Jab tak saansh tab tak aash,” says a media committee member.
Bhagat played diplomatic: “I will keep a close look on the results coming on the nine seats the Congress has contested in Jharkhand. First I will observe the results at my residence and then go to the party office. We are hopeful to see favourable outcomes from the State.” However, even members of Congress’ media cell are not aware of whereabouts of party’s candidate from Ranchi Subodh Kant Sahay! “He would have reached Ranchi. But I am not sure,” says Ajay Rai on Thursday. JMM chief and party candidate from Dumka Shibu Soren is already in the constituency. The party acknowledges the battle for the senior Soren “the toughest” so far.
“We are looking at the counting day very positively. Workers have been placed and given instruction to reach to the counting places at 6 am after taking full meal. They have also been told to watch cautiously and inform the control room in case of any untoward incident,” said JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya. The party besides, closely watching results from Jharkhand would keep a tab on Odisha and nationally as well from its central office.
While some hope is for the Congress and the JMM from here and there, situation looking completely gloomy for the JVM. Party supremo Babulal Marandi, who on Thursday left for Dumka with heavy heart.
“He is leading in three Assembly segments Shikaripara, Dumka and Jama. But in the rest three how much is he loosing it very hard to tell,” said a party general secretary.Meanwhile, State police have made proper security arrangements so that no untoward incident takes place. Chief Electoral Officer PK Jajoria has also issued instructions to all the district headquarters directing them to make adequate security arrangements for the day.
“We are fully prepared to tackle any emergency situation during the counting and have made three-tier security arrangements where counting is to take place,” said DGP Rajiv Kumar.According to Kumar, to prevent anti-social elements creating any disturbance during the counting, patrolling parties have been asked to be vigilant and inform the control room if anything unusual found by them. No one found causing disturbance during the counting will be spared, he added.
District Electoral Officer cum Deputy Commissioner Vinay Kumar Chaubey also said that no electronic gadgets will be allowed inside the counting hall for security reasons.“We have briefed the counting agents not to bring their cell phones or any other gadget with them inside the hall,” said the DC. Media persons however, will be allowed to bring their gadgets to the media centers, he added.