With the poll battleground shifting to Kolhan, Khunti and Simdega the regions having a long history of tribal movement, in the second phase, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), cornered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over 'family rule', played the ethnic card aggressively daring the BJP to name its chief minister.
“The BJP should also tell the people whether the Chief Minister's post will go to a Chhattisgarhi or a person from Balia or a JharkhandiIJ” said JMM general secretary and strategist Supriyo Bhattacharya.
Riding high on Modi's popularity, the BJP has not named its chief ministerial candidate in order to keep the tribals and non-tribals united. The JMM also launched a frontal attack on Modi after its internal report card said that it could bag at least four out of 13 seats which went to poll in the first phase, getting a toehold in Palamu and Gumla.
The poll battle has now shifted to Kolhan where the JMM has strong base and desperate to improve its tally.The JMM attacked Modi for his acerbic comments on family rule and a coalition Government. “Modi wants to end the family rule while there are at least nine leaders in the BJP whose sons and daughters are enjoying the fruits of power,” Bhattacharya said.
The JMM also tried to puncture Modi's claim on development in Gujarat, particularly with regards to women.“Also, Modi's aggressive campaign against a coalition Government runs counter to the structure of the Central Government in which half a dozen parties are partners,” he pointed out.
But then, the BJP also expects to gain impressively with at least seven to eight seats spread across Maoist-hit Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, lohardaga and Gumla districts, where it had only three seats in the last elections.The BJP has 10 while the Congress has four seats in Kolhan region. Of the 20 seats, which are at the stake in the second phase, the BJP represents 10 and JMM five in the State assembly. One seat each is shared by Congress, Janata Dal (U), Geeta Koda, Bandhu Tirkey and Anosh Ekka.
While the BJP has focused its campaign on the slogan of ending family rule (Baap-bete ki sarkar of Shibu Soren and Hemant Soren) and corruption, the JMM will invoke the tribal card and the role of the JMM in the Jharkhand movement in Kolhan region.
Notably, there were frequent instances of police firing on adivasis in Chaibasa linked with Jharkhand movement in 80s, including Gua police firing (1980). Soon after taking over the charge, Hemant had rushed to Gua to hand over job letters to the kin of the eight adivasis who had been killed in the firing incident. Khunti had been land of Ulgulan launched by Birsa Munda during 1895-1900.“Both the BJP as well the Congress should tell the people as how many of their cadres had been killed during the Jharkhand movement,” maintained Bhattacharya.
Senior BJP leader Arjun Munda, however, castigated the JMM for taking full credit for the movement launched by Adivasis in Kolhan. “Adivasis had long launched their struggle against the landlords and establishment before the JMM came on the scene,” added the former Chief Minister.
He pointed out that Singhbhum was once described by the British administrators as “Tibet of Chhotanagpur” because of the district's total inaccessibility to the outsiders. “The Ho tribes of the region, who were known as larka Kols and larka Hos for their fighting prowess were not even conquered by the Britishers.”
“Jharkhand was created after sacrifices made by the tribals and non-tribals after a century struggle, so it would be historically wrong if a particular party wanted to take credit. In fact, Jharkhand was created by the BJP when the Jharkhand movement had petered out following the bribery case involving several top leaders of the JMM,” he added.
“long before the birth of the JMM, several adivasis had been killed in police firing in Kharsawan on January 1 1948 wherein the Odisha government attempted to gain control of the princely State of Kharsawan. Will the JMM also stake claim to these sacrificesIJ he asked.
“Adivasis have now become enlightened and will see through the JMM gameplan which earlier relished in keeping them backward,” he maintained.