Saturday’s statewide bandh called primarily by the JMM to protest against the domicile policy has far reaching political implications in the State. The protest has clearly drawn a line dividing those with the Government and parties in power and those against the bloc.
Besides host of pro-tribal groups, moolvasi organizations and sadans, political outfits such as Congress, JVM, Marxists Coordination, Jai Bharat Samanta Party, left parties and even parties numerically on fringe here like RJD and JD (U) have backed the bandh call “morally” or otherwise.
Potentially for many, the issue could turn out to be a jelling factor against the looking strong ruling coalition since there are some dissenting voices from within. Apart from dissatisfaction expressed openly against some clauses of the domicile policy by the coalition partner AJSU, it is learnt that several MlAs and MPs of the BJP have reservations to a certain extent.
Though, the rift inside may not sound much severe for the stability of the Raghubar Das Government at the moment but outsiders would love to fuel the fire on this divisive issue. Flares are already out with adverse comments made by former CM Arjun Munda about certain provision which the Opposition is terming “fire within the BJP with devastating effects on the Government”.
But in public, the BJP is sounding strong and united and has backed the Government’s ‘zeal and courage to solve a risky issue in the larger interest of the State’. When CM Raghubar Das after his initial stiffness has blinked first, only time would tell how the contentious issue can centrifuge the politics of Jharkhand.