‘JMM, Congress less affected’
When erosion level is so high in the party, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) is unofficially analysing the situation with giving it a close look. For many in the Babulal Marandi-led party the flush was inevitable and they saw it coming well in advance.
“look, we were the party whose most of the leaders have come from the BJP or have roots with the party. Our cadres and supporters are all such people who still have soft corner for the BJP. Now when the realisation about wave for national party is all time high and clear surge in the favour of the BJP is a writing on the wall many feel that it is high time they should go for better option,” said a party general secretary.
The JVM, that came into shape in 2006 by breaking away in the leadership of Babulal Marandi who led the first BJP Government in Jharkhand after separation from erstwhile Bihar, just ahead of the crucial Assembly elections is witnessing a mad rush back towards the saffron party. As many as five of its sitting legislators have parted ways and crossed over to the BJP. The faction is also claiming to have support of couple of more MlAs whose coming over was “just a matter of time.”
The party at the receiving end has a strong feeling that grown up support in the favour of the BJP is exerting immense pressure on its MlAs by their cadres who share a bond with the saffron party. “It is there. Most of the MlAs are either not sure about their win as JVM man or see no advantage even if they win individually. They don’t want to sit in futile Opposition for so long,” said Nirbhay Sahabadi, Giridih MlA who is one among the group of five JVM legislators.
The rate of attrition is relatively low in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Congress. Though the former, primarily a strong cadre based party, has seen two of its MlAs going in BJP’s ways ahead of the lok Sabha polls in the form of Hemlal Murmu and Vidyut Baran Mahto, littipara MlA Simon Marandi held the ‘lotus’ last Sunday only.
“We do not feel any kind of pressure whatsoever from the BJP. Our cadres and supporters know just one thing which is ‘bow and arrow’ (election symbol of the JMM). Had there been any kind of surge of the BJP in respect of the JMM such a strong leader would not have been defeated,” said JMM general secretary Suprio Bhattacharya indicating to former party MlA Hemlal Murmu who lost lok Sabha elections on the BJP ticket.
On the other despite murmurs about some sulking leaders mulling to switch over, Congress is a less worried lot. It party with its ailing organisational structure at grassroots is more or less expecting about a poor show and thus busy in building the party afresh. “We have clear task in our hands which is aimed for future. We have hold so many workers conferences and restructuring our oraganisation,” said Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat.
Sources in the party feel that remaining in power for last one year is set to have its bearing on the Assembly results, especially when fear of drought is looming large. In this scenario just changing the party is not going to change face and fortune of the party leaders among the voters, says a senior functionary.