From a labourer working in Tata Steel to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, life has been a roller coaster ride for five-time Jamshedpur East MlA and seasoned politician Raghubar Das.
A small Qr. No 67-68 in Agrico Main Road, the steel city-based residence of Jamshedpur East MlA and the new Chief Minister Raghubar Das, was abuzz with activities since morning.
And excitement reached its crescendo at noon when Union Health Minister and one of the two party observers for BJP legislative party meeting, J.P Nadda announced Das as leader of the legislative party in Ranchi.
His supporters started bursting crackers on the Agrico Main Road as the celebration virtually brought traffic to a halt on the 1-km long road.
Members of a band started playing popular Bollywood hits as more than 1000 supporters started dancing to its tune along with distribution of ‘ladoos’ and ‘gulab jamun’. Bunch of youth supporters started bursting crackers on the Agrico Main Road as the celebration virtually brought traffic to a halt on the 1-km long road.
Das’ three sisters--Premvati Bai, Mahari Bai and Dedu Bai--also joined the celebrations by dancing to the tunes of the music. Incidentally, his son lalit Kumar is a trainee (in HR) at Tata Steel and daughter Renu is married and settled in Raigarh (Chhattisgarh).
Supporters and family members have placed a name plate of Raghubar Das as chief minister with photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on it.
The low profile Das was born on May 3, 1955 to late Chawan Rai and late Sonbati. He passed matric from Bhalubasa Harijan High School and completed BSc from Jamshedpur Cooperative College after which he completed a 3 year law degree from the same college. Incidentally, former CM Arjun Munda was also a student of Harijan School in Bhalubhasa.
After his graduation, he joined Tata Steel as a labourer and is still employed with the company. His father late Chavan Raia was a labourer with Tata Steel.
He has been active in politics since his college days. He took part in the agitation to establish a university in Jamshedpur. In 1977 he joined as member of Janata Party and latter in 1980 became active in BJP. He served as polling agent during 1980 elections. In 1995 he received ticket 1995. He won the elections by a margin of 1101.
“ We are hopeful on his leadership. He will pave way for development that will reach all the districts of state,” said Narendra Singh, an Agrico-based transporter.
“Raghubarji with his political experience (five times MlA since 1995) has shown his calibre in various portfolios in the past (finance, urban development and deputy CM). He would ensure that there is sustainable development of both industries and agriculture and we might see the ownership status for urban slums being granted under his tenure,” said Jairam Singh, retired editor of ‘Tisco Samachar’ (a Hindi newsletter of Tata Steel) who has been associated as a secretary of Raghubar Das since 2000.
Incidentally, Raghubar Das had led the agitation for ownership rights to 86 urban slums (outside Tata Steel command areas) in 1994-95 under the banner of Basti Vikas Samity.
The matter is sub-judice with the Jharkhand High Court.