He is said to be a politician with utopian dreams. Many say Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted him to return to his ‘home’, but he put some ‘unacceptable’ condition and did not lap up the offer. Having failed to stitch any pre-poll electoral understanding and losing his soldiers to the BJP before the assembly elections, Babulal Marandi, the most indomitable politician in Jharkhand, appears to be on a sticky wicket as the electoral battle shifts to North Chhotanagpur and Coal belt. In the midst of electioneering for the crown of Jharkhand, Marandi, nevertheless, is a busy man and confident to form the government. The State’s first Chief Minister spoke to The Pioneer. Excerpts:
Assessment of JVM’s poll prospects:
I am not an astrologer to predict but the JVM candidates have performed well in the first two phases of elections. The JVM is giving challenge to both the BJP and JMM across the State and sure to form the government.
Why so confidentIJ
The other parties have been looting the State while I have been among public these years. I have not looted Jharkhand. Both the BJP as well as JMM has taken control of TV, newspapers, khuta-khambha with their money power. Both of them are spending at least 25 lakh each on advertisements daily. Koyala, baalu aur jameen ke loot ka prabhav JMM par dikh raha hai. I have no money to woo voters but a place in their heart.
Then, why contesting two seatsIJ
Our cadres wanted me to contest both Dhanwar and Giridih.
On being soft on Narendra Modi.
It is wrong to say that I have been soft towards Modi. I can’t be as abusive as Hemant Soren could be. There is no place for abusive language in a democracy. But I have been telling the people how the BJP hoodwinked them with its promises on black money, price rise, model village etc. Modi wants one village to become a model one. I want the whole of Jharkhand should be a model state. In fact, both the BJP and Congress are responsible for the mess. The regional parties and tribal leaders were used by those sitting in New Delhi as instruments of exploitation. They turned governance into a business and this gave all a licence to loot.
On Congress prospects:
The Congress has become the party of the past in Jharkhand. (Congress Jharkhand mein ateet ki party ban chuki hai)
On Modi’s ‘baap-bete ki sarkar’ jibe against JMM:
But who had allowed the baap-beta to form the governmentIJ It was the BJP, who paved their way to loot Jharkhand.
On Tribal-non-tribal Chief Minister issue:
The issue has been raked up to bag votes. Nowhere in the Constitution it is written that Jharkhand’s chief minister will be a tribal. It is a ploy by some party to play the tribal card and for others to push the leadership issue under carpet to mislead the voters. The BJP should also not have discussed the issue in a hush-hush tone. Why cant Modi with 56 inch chest muster courage to declare a leader in JharkhandIJ
On Hemant Soren’s threatening of bloodshed on CNT-SPT Act:
It is rubbish. It was Hemant Soren who had tried to amend CNT act through Tribal Advisory Council. It is a ploy to bag tribal votes. He can go to any extent for the sake of power. But people ultimately reject such opportunists.
On his main rival in elections:
We are not competing with anyone. We are going to people on the basis of our work among the people. It is good if they are convinced and vote. If they don’t, we are ready to do tapasya for next five years.
On future of JVM:
I live in present and not in future. I have not done any under hand dealing. I have not committed any wrong. I am into politics to serve the people.
On not being a pragmatic politician e la AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto:
I need not be so pragmatic. I am not born to mint money. I am in politics to serve the people and the State. I have left the job of minting money for parties like JMM and AJSU.
On whether he will join the BJP if it falls short of a majority:
Nothing is hypothetical in politics. I have replied it thousand times.