Congress’ effort to cash in on the massive gathering of tribal population in Jatra Mahotsav submerged into deep waters with the rain gods playing spoil sport. Just before top brass of the party figuring MP Subodh Kant Sahay, Congress legislative Party leader Rajendra Singh and others were scheduled to reach Bero, 35km from Ranchi, heavy rain lashed out the arena, uprooted the tents and threw all the arrangements made out of gear.
The programme organised by Kendriya Pahada Jatra Samiti for 47th times was also to unofficially launch Union Cabinet Minister Jairam Ramesh in Jharkhand since the party high command -- eying for some sunshine -- officially posted him to the State. Though Ramesh attended another programme, but not the one that is the amalgamation of thousands of tribals, especially Oraon, comprising from 331 villages named as Pahada and also their traditional 'kings'. Ramesh's participation held as special as the Minister has been quite vocal for the rights of tribals, moratorium for fresh mining operations in socially fragile areas like in Saranda and also bluntly admitted atrocities taken place against the community. The party wants to present him as a face of the Congress in Jharkhand; the State witnessing gradual slump in its support base.
The tribal meet was originally perceived as a rewarding platform for the party to reinstate itself in hearts and minds of tribals through the Jatra. Sleuth of the party could have sent out a message through the 'rulers' and get widespread dissemination among voters who once considered as the party's cadre vote.
"leaders like Karamchand Bhagat and Kartik Oraon had had deep inroads in the Mandar constituency that comprises Mandar, Bedo, Chanho and lapung. The continuance has been broken since the internal differences in the party irrupted. But still the voters of this area are largely behind secular forces and can turn for the Congress if there is a good option," said Salim Hussain, a local who has been involved in organising the function.
Though the gathering saw former Congress MP and Chairman of the NCST Rameshwar Oraon, Dr Ravindra Nath Bhagat, vice-chancellor of Vinoba Bhave University and president of the organising committee and Shiv Narayan Oraon, former MP from Nepal participating.
The traditional gathering welcomed rain with open heart. Cultural programme resumed exactly from where it was stopped. It depicted the zeal of the community that has never been in conflict with the Nature. Folks danced to the tunes of sweet mandar as if there was no space for politics and also pleaded that let the tradition remain above everything.