Giving blow to the possibility of the Opposition unity based on the Bihar model, the JMM on Wednesday announced that the party would not put its weight behind any party be it Congress or Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) in lohardaga bypoll.
The decision has come four days ahead of the byelection. “We have decided not to lend our party’s support to any party or alliance contesting the by-poll at lohardaga. The party would appeal to the voters to use their franchise based on their inner conscience,” said JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya.
The JMM, despite repeated attempts made by the Congress seeking its backing for Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sukhdeo Bhagat who is into the arena for fourth consecutive times, first put it on hold and then kept all in suspense till the last moment by not fielding its own candidate.
Nevertheless, the strategy then was perceived by the Congress in its favour as the party assumed that lastly
the Shibu Soren-led outfit driven by its ‘secular credentials’ would extend its open support to it.
“We were expecting that the party would back us openly which could have been vital for the Congress as there is close fight among the prominent candidates. But their remaining non-aligned may go against us,” said Alok Kumar Dubey of the Congress party.
The constituency has considerable presence of tribal voters that coming together with minority form a decisive bloc to determine win or loss of any candidate. Having deep penetration among tribal voters and also among minorities, JMM’s support could have been handy for the Congress for the battle which now seems tilting in favour of the NDA.
“With JMM not supporting any faction, chances are that its cadre voters would get confused and their votes would get divided between the JVM and the Congress. As the BJP and AJSU are fighting together and substantial support is there in the favaour of Neeru Shanti Bhagat it would be an easy sailing for NDA in lohardaga,” said a BJP functionary reading out the election arithmetic.
Neeru Shanti Bhagat is wife of two-time lohardaga MlA Kamal Kishore Bhagat who had to relinquish his Assembly membership following his conviction in a criminal case.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Wednesday addressed three election rallies in the favour of the NDA candidate. The poll meetings took place at Rampur, Kisko and Kudu where the CM sought vote for one year of good governance in the State along with on emotional plank.
“Neeru Shanti Bhagat is your daughter, your sister-in-law. You have to continue your love and support to the family like before,” said Das in the presence of AJSU supremo Sudesh Mahto at Kudu.