At a time when the State BJP unit is more than confident to cross the magic figure of 42 in Jharkhand Assembly polls, the party's most prominent face in Jharkhand, Arjun Munda, feels that the issue of leadership and chief ministerial post is created by external elements than committed party workers.
The three-time Chief Minister of the State feels that Jharkhand will get a majority Government this time with an agenda of development in the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. Munda poured his heart out on diverse issues of the State in a conversation with The Pioneer. Excerpts:
On party' confidence level ahead of polls:
We are fully confident that the public will give full support to the BJP this time. Wewant a thumping majority this time. I feel as a leader that voters will use their conscience this time and give more than majority seats to the party. We stand a fair chance this election because the people have understood their agenda and in a democracy it is the people only who set their agenda. If development is their agenda then stability is also their agenda, if stability is the agenda then accountability is also an agenda. Also, the future of the country is in the hands of the youths who have made up their mind to come forward to give new directions to the State.
On development:
Development was slow and governance has been lethargic earlier. We tried to doour best during our Government. Rural electrification and rural roads construction projects were taken up in right earnest during our rule but unfair politics stopped the work in the State.
Today, the first thing we need is a stable Government for self-development here. Secondly, a resident of the State needs roads to make the Government reach at his doorsteps. The Government of India and the State Government need perfect tuning. Policy conflict hinders the way of development. This happened during the UPA regime as we never got things that we desired for Jharkhand. I wrote for a nuclear plant, construction of highways and many other things but unfortunately did not get anything.
Development and self-employment are the key issues in this election. We tried to start institutional development here. The process of strengthening local self-governance bodies like panchayats was started. We tried to streamline the system of rural representatives for self-governance. But, they (the Congress and JMM) did not let us make them powerful tools. When we started real decentralization after conducting panchayat polls my coalition started getting worried of me. Coalition used to stop even the work of institutional development. Stability is the first condition for the State's development.
On coalition with AJSU party:
There is a coalition where you enter into agreement with other parties without choice. This is called a coalition with compulsion. The other situation is when you take along parties with similar school of thought. This is called coalition without compulsion. Our coalition is for development of the State and we believe it's without any intention of political manoeuvring.
On party leadership:
Is it elaborated in the Constitution anywhereIJ If it is not there then party will decide (Who will be the leader). The party has to take a call. The party just has to see that the State is developed in a proper way. There is absolutely no issue about it. As a party worker I only know that either the party or the legislators will decide who will be the leader. The people make different meanings out of leaders' statements, it not expected from mature citizens and leaders.
On tribal vs. non-tribal CM:
We should have a holistic view of the society, which possesses a rich cultural heritage in it. Everyone should think in this way. What is the tribal, non-tribal issue hereIJ The party has to see all these things and decide accordingly. If someone raises such trivial issues I think it will be detrimental to the State.
On poll strategy in Santhal Pargana:
We should perform better in Santhal Pargana region this time because the incumbent Government has remained a failure in fulfilling the expectations of the people of the region. Moreover, everyone is looking forward to a change that is evident this time in the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.