Deeply perturbed with the way BJP is making a foray in Santhal Pargana Jharkhand Mukti Mocha (JMM) has termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dumka and Barhet on Monday an attack on the federal system of the Country. At the same time it seems to be patting its back welcoming the decision taken by BJP to field a Prime Minister against Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
The Shibu Soren led party has put thousands of balloons with the faces of father-son duo of JMM on both sides, all over the constituency to welcome Modi on Monday. “It is a clear cut attack on the federal system of this Country that a Prime Minister has been fielded against the Chief Minister holding rallies both at Dumka and Barhet Assembly seats where he is contesting from,” said JMM Spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya. It’s very unfortunate that the Prime Minister had to come here for a Chief Minister, we welcome the decision taken by the BJP, he added.
The state BJP, on the other hand, believes that Modi’s visit will change the political scenario of Santhal Pargan benefitting the party in the long run. According to state BJP spokesperson Ajay Maroo, it is in the interest of the state that the Prime Minister himself is taking keen interest in the state. “It passes a strong message among the people that the state will now be getting full support from the centre in future, if it gets proper cooperation from the state government,” said Maroo.
Referring to the JMM’s allegation that only the PM is holding rallies in the State, Maroo said Modi has done only nine rallies in Jharkhand, while other star campaigners like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh have done six rallies each. MP Manoj Tiwari alone has done 32 rallies himself, said Maroo.
The JMM has already lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against the BJP’s move to hold a rally on the premises of Dumka airport. According to the JMM, airport premises being a restricted area and coming under high-security zone should not used for political rallies. Moreover, it would also hamper the movement of helicopters being used by other political parties, they stated.
“Bulbs have also been put inside the balloons in order to make them visible from a far away distance even in the night,” said JMM core committee member Vinod Pandey. These balloons have been raised in the sky for publicity and has nothing to do with the Prime Minister’s visit to Dumka, Pandey countered.
The BJP has fielded 17 candidates, including tribal leader louise Marandi in Dumka and one-time JMM veteran Hemlal Murmu in Barhait against the Chief Minister. Shikaripara Assembly seat, however, has been left for the third ally – lok Janshakti Party.
Tribal heartland Santhal Pargana, with 18 Assembly seats, has been a JMM stronghold. In 2009 Assembly elections, the JMM had managed to get hold on 10 seats while the rest were distributed among other claimants - BJP (2), RJD (2), JVM (2), Congress (1) and Independent (1).