Stunning show of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as well as aggressive posturing for upcoming lok Sabha polls has started showing its imprints in Jharkhand as well.
Adding to the elongating list of heavyweight incomers such as Medha Patkar, Mallika Sarabhai and Ashutosh, the AAP may see a lok Sabha MP from Jharkhand in the form of Ajay Kumar joining it in the days to come.
Top sources in the AAP confirmed this to The Pioneer that the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha's (JVM) MP from Jamshedpur is in the summit level talks with the political newborn and any decision in this regard would come out soon.
Interestingly, Kumar is camping in Delhi and officially trying to convince the AAP to enter into an alliance with the JVM in Jharkhand. But the line adhered by both the parties so far suggests that no seat-sharing like understanding would emerge in the State and thus leave only one way for the IPS officer turned politician to switch over.
"Ajay Kumar is pressing for a tie-up with the JVM and saying that Babulal Marandi is a noble politician and good people should walk along. We made it clear to him that in no way the AAP can enter into an alliance with any party and merging JVM with AAP is the only option. We have our own candidate selection process and agenda which cannot be compromised with. Then he said that he was in Dharm Sankat (dilemma) and dropped sufficient hints that lastly he may join the AAP if any understanding is not reached," said a close confidant of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is handling the matter.
The strategy of Kumar is that he would go all out in convincing - keeping in mind its popularity — the JVM leadership about possible merger. If failed, then would walk into the AAP formally and contest the next general election with broom as symbol.
When contacted JVM general secretary Praveen Singh admitted that the MP had been authorised to talk to the AAP to hammer out any possible "understanding", not amounting to a seat share kind of agreement.
"He had come up with a proposal about political understanding considering clean image of Arvind Kejriwal which can benefit the JVM. The party has given him a go-ahead to explore possibility if there is any. But in no way it is possible for the JVM to enter into a seat-sharing kind of thing with any party in Jharkhand," said Singh.
The recent move of Kumar is an extension of his soft corner developed for the anti-graft movement since the Anna movement days when he had publicly praised it and underlined the importance of the Jan lokpal Bill in dealing with corruption from public life. This time as well, he is taking names like Joba Manjhi and other 'cleaner faces' along. Though, when asked about his recent Delhi voyage Kumar spurs little.
"I have had some rounds of talks with AAP in last two-three days. I tried to convince them that Babulal Marandi is a good fellow and there is a need of non-Congress non-BJP forces coming together. The JVM is looking for a kind of understanding with the AAP but that is still to happen. Several rounds of talks are yet to take place," said the Jamshedpur MP over phone from Delhi on Tuesday.
However lok Sabha plans of the AAP in Jharkhand is yet to be finalised but as per preliminary indications the party is eyeing to field candidates in all the 14 lok Sabha seats available. It may prove a formidable force in the urban centres like Jamshedpur which would have prompted Kumar to cross over the boundary.