He might have secured countless screaming headlines, pushed political heavyweights behind the bars and stood tall as a whistleblower and anti-corruption crusader of Jharkhand, but garnering votes in the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) elections is turning out to be a tough nut for Durga Oraon to crack.
The anti-corruption crusader, though, remains hopeful and is swimming against the tide of lakhpatis in the fray for the Mayor’s post.
When just three more days are left in campaigning, till April 6, Oraon is banking on a 50-odd members’ team hailing from Jharkhand Against Corruption and a few volunteers who sat on fast in Ranchi to support Anna Hazare in Delhi.
“We have volunteers and workers who have been raising issue of corruption. They are contacting people door-to-door and making them aware of the fight of Durga Oraon. But what we are facing is severe shortage of funds,” said Pankaj Kumar, a close aide.
The worry is obvious, as the electoral battle being a sheer show of money and muscle power is no longer a secret.
The anti-corruption crusader, contrary to his opponents, has a budget barely touching Rs 1.5 lakh. “Whatever we are managing is from donations from likeminded people and that also from those whose credentials are verified. I also got offers for money from several persons but denied them, considering their dubious background. The budget is so small that I could not put up hoardings,” said Oraon.
He is forced to mange his campaign with just two vehicles, a couple of offices but lots of personalised consultations.
“Of course he is facing shortage of resources in comparison to other candidates, but people are giving good response to Oraon. Wherever he goes, voters are amazed to meet him,” said Jharkhand High Court advocate Rajiv Kumar, a potent force behind Oraon’s name and fame.
“They have heard about him and his efforts that have put scamsters like Madhu Koda and others in jails. The whole point is to make people believe that even a common man can contest without money,” he pointed out.
“Deep-rooted corruption” in the RMC is at the top of the agenda. “I am telling them about the sum of funds having lapsed in the RMC, corruption in issuing birth and death certificates and the condition of drains and roads. If I can win their support, I would certainly play a decisive role in future,” added Oraon.
Oraon has been allotted ‘tokri’ (bamboo basket) as election symbol, but indications thus far suggest that it would not be filled much with popular votes.
Nonetheless, Kumar is optimistic. “I cannot say about the number of votes he will get. Even if he can manage 5,000, they would not be purchased ones. It will have the potential to set the future of electoral politics,” he pointed out.
Kumar is planning to file a PIl in high court against parties backing candidatures of several aspirants openly in the municipal polls; a distant dream for the likes of Durga Oraon.