Though polls are not knocking at their doorsteps right now, host of parties into different camps are already in a yatra mode, often seen as affair taking place just before or even during the polls.
Besides the lead Opposition party JMM, the party sharing power with the BJP-AJSU, has also hit the streets through its ‘Swabhiman Yatra’ while JVM is also to follow the suit soon.
Quite understandably the ruling BJP discards the exercise as nothing but a ‘drama’, the direct contact programme is seemingly a lease of life for the others.
At the conclusion of the second leg of his ‘Sangharsh yatra’ at Gumla’s Sisai Maidan on Friday, JMM executive president and Leader of the Opposition Hemant Soren appealed to the people to uproot the incumbent Government.
Similar were the tunes of AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto who despite being inside the Government is missing no opportunity to launch scathing attack on it criticising one of the pet schemes Dova construction.
He also during the ‘Swabhiman Yatra’ has pulled up the BJP for playing divisive politics at the cost of adivasi and moolvasis.
Insiders suggest that no where during the Yatra any shape of so called ‘Mahagathbandhan’ or grand alliance have come to fore.
“The exercise is to rejoin with roots and people and revise the links well ahead as the atmosphere is building up for the next poll.
Along with examining the links with the people, the JMM is also looking to test its strengths away from its home ground Santhal Pargana. Gumla has been chosen under this strategy.
Along with putting pressure on the Government it is also an attempt to keep partners like Congress, RJD, JVM guessing since this is going to play a crucial role when the seat sharing formula would be decided,” said a senior JMM leader.
The JMM is in agreement with Congress and others into the anti-BJP camp to fight the polls under one umbrella first during the Lok Sabha polls due early next year followed by Assembly polls.
Though the Hemant Soren-led party has given reigns into the hands of the Congress for the Lok Sabha elections, it has been assured to lead the State polls due lately in 2019.
“The commitment is there but we have to make ourselves poll-ready and compatible enough to bargain best deal possible for us.
The JMM leadership has perceived that pan-Jharkhand presence is required if the party wants to play the pivot during upcoming polls.
That is way the yatra is going to cover all over Jharkhand regardless of the seats we are expected to get or otherwise,” said JMM general secretary Suprio Bhattacharya.
Similar is the attempt of AJSU that in recent times has seen sharp erosion in its hold losing bye-polls one after the other.
“Any party does not want to play second fiddle to the other all the time.
“We need to resurrect ourselves if the AJSU is to be considered as potent force and command respect,” said AJSU’s Deo Sharan Bhagat.
Moreover, the BJP is sounding indifferent to all this and picked up holes into this yatra politics.
“JMM is befooling the people.This yatra is bewakuuf banao yatra.
“The party should first answer why this is playing into the hands of the Congress which has been denigrating tribal leaders,” said State BJP spokesperson Pratull Shahdeo.