With the political temperature soaring up with every passing day, all eyes in the Steel City are set on the prestigious Jamshedpur (East) Assembly seat, where the four –time legislator and national vice president of BJP Raghubar Das is going to take over his arch rival and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha candidate Abhay Singh.
Though Das has a stronghold in his constituency but after the JVM’s intense campaign of issues of ownership rights of 86 bastis and lack of facilities at slum areas, the fight has become intense. Both the groups are putting their best efforts to display their strength and garner good number of votes.In 2009 elections, Das had defeated Abhay in a close battle. He had received 56165 votes while Abhay 33202 and Anand Bihari Dubey an independent candidate received 10944 votes. This time too, the trio is facing each other in the battle with Dubey bagging the Congress ticket.
Moreover, since JMM has fielded a newcomer Kamaljeet Kaur Gill, the neck to neck fight would be between JVM and BJP.
According to an election analyst, Das enjoys good hold in his constituency and the real fight would be between BJP and JVM. However, situation has changed this year, with JMM fielding a Sikh candidate Gill. Das, who enjoys great rapport with the Sikh community, might have to face a tough situation with Gill trying to woo the Sikh community.
“Jamshedpur East Assembly mostly has urban areas and the way with which JVM has been raising issues of civic amenities and closed INCAB company in the area, it has managed to garner support. Both Das and Abhay are senior leaders and well accepted among the people. They are attached to the roots so it would be interesting to see them vying from Jamshedpur East Assembly seat. It would be testing times for both of them. I feel that the Modi magic will too play an important role,” said R Joshi, a city-based analyst. He said that the role of Sikh community will be crucial this time.
Das has a good track record. In 2005 elections too Das had received 52.96 per cent votes while Congress opponent Ramashray Prasad 38 per cent. Das said that he has served the people of Jamshedpur with heart and soul and see no reason why people will not elect him again.
Meanwhile, despite facing bitter experiences in past Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) (Prajatantrik), is gearing up to bounce back in Kolhan division. Abhay, who is also party’s central secretary is hopeful that the voters will vote for change. “I am contesting for the second time in the Assembly elections and going by the records our vote percentage has increased over the years. I am confident that people will vote for JVM and Marandiji’s image will work in my favour,” he said.