With Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) decimated in the Lok Sabha elections and its senior leaders deserting party, the JVM(P) is facing its worst phase since it came to existence. In last one month, several senior party leaders have deserted their parent party, joining BJP in search of their political existence.
The latest list in this connection includes Ramgarh district JVM leaders, Rajiv Jaiswal and Vijay Jaiswal joining Saffron party along with large number of their supporters in presence of BJP State unit president Laxman Gilua on Sunday. Last week, the JVM(P) received a jolt with three senior leaders, Yogendra Pratap Singh, KK Poddar and Munna Mallick joining the ruling BJP. While, Singh was party’s central spokesperson, K K Poddar was party’s treasurer; Munna Malick was holding the post of JVM (P) minority cell president.
Similarly, senior JVM (P) leader Laxman Swarnkar took the membership of BJP in the first week of July. Swarnkar, who started his political innings as RSS member has influence in Giridih district and had represented Gandey in Assembly in 1977 and 1995, but four years back he had joined JVM. BJP state unit president Laxman Gilua reacting on Swarnkar joining BJP had said that with the Ghar Wapsi of JVM (P) leader, the party will gain strength in Giridih especially at Gandey.
Senior JVM (P) leader claim exodus of leaders from party is setback and will have its affect in year-end Assembly election. A senior JVM (P) leader requesting anonymity said, “The party is passing through its worst phase since its existence. There is leadership crisis within the party at district-level. The morale of party workers after Lok Sabha election results is at low. At party-level there is neither any strategy nor any plan to strengthen the organization.” The leader further said, “Presently JVM (P) entirely banks on charisma of Babulal Marandi. Pradeep Yadav, the other senior leader and party Poreyahat MLA is absconding from police after his name surfaced in alleged sexual exploitation of a woman party worker. Ironically, Yadav had received the best performing MLA award in Jharkhand Assembly.” However, party leaders claim that such development is not going to affect party.
JVM (P) state secretary, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra said, “Joining new members and exodus of party leaders is part of every political party. JVM (P) is issue based party with its president Babulal Marandi biggest and undisputed leader in party.” Mishra claimed that to strengthen the organization the party membership drive through which enrollment of 3 lakh new members is going on.
Meanwhile, the State BJP claimed that members from different parties are joining BJP due to its vision. BJP MLA from Hatia, Navin Jaiswal said, “Leaders from different parties, influenced with vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Raghubar Das, are joining the BJP and such joining will gain momentum in coming days.”
JVM (P) formed in 2006, received its biggest jolt when six MLAs jumped side to BJP after 2014 Assembly election results. The six JVM (P) leaders who switched side were Naveen Jaiswal, Randhir Kumar Singh, Janaki Yadav, Alok Chaurasia, Ganesh Ganjhu and Amar Kumar Bauri. Marandi protesting against the joining of these MLAs even approached Speaker’s court and Jharkhand High Court. However, in 2015, the BJP formally inducted all the six MLAs to the party at Jharkhand Bhawan in New Delhi in presence of Chief Minister Raghubar Das.