With poll fever fast catching up the Steel City here after various workers unions hit the campaign trail for the October 15 Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) recognition poll, the Rourkela Mazdoor Sabha (affiliated to HMS) is set to take advantage of the internal dispute of the Rourkela Shramik Sangh (RSS), affiliated to INTUC.
It may be noted here that RSS has been continuing as a recognised union in the RSP since 1995. It is a major force to reckon with.
However, presently the RSS is not enjoying that comfort which it used to have in past. The split in the organisation due to differences between general secretary MDN Panikar and president Prashant Behera has certainly weakened it to a considerable length, feel the observers. Going a step ahead, Panikar has put the Regional labour Commissioner (Central) in dock through a number of letters for not allowing Behera to participate in election process as RSS leader.
According to him Behera is no more a member of RSS and hence has no right to contest polls under the banner of the RSS.
According to Panikar, the present president of RSS is DD Subudhi though Behera has been making false claims about it. On the contrary, Behera is citing him to be RSS president, Mahipal Bag to be general secretary and Panikar to be a nonentity.
Source said the ball is in the RlC court and very soon he would give a final verdict. But one thing is definite that during election process such type of statements from both camps will definitely affect the chance of the organization in poll result. Even many workers are found keeping detached from RSS. So definitely they will have to align to another organization. In this case, they would have options to switch over either to RMS or CITU or to BMS.
Though last time CITU was in second position, it does not seem to be enjoying that leverage now. Rather, workers are aggrieved with CITU.
Besides, the explosive views of AICTU leader Gaya Singh regarding the role of CITU in NJCS may affect CITU chance. Similarly, though this time BMS is expected to be a force among top four but its major drawback is poor base with lack of experienced and competent labour leaders. So the option for workers would be RMS or other organizations.