The opportunism of many leaders to win elections by holding the right flag at the right time has come as disappointment for many this time. New alliances and deals for the forthcoming Assembly elections have broken their hearts and are forcing these veterans desert their parties after discovering that they do not get a place in the list of candidates.
The first course correction of the day, as the turncoats are naming it, came from former JMM, JVM and BJP leader Dulal Bhuiyan who completed a full circle by again making an entry into his parent party. “It is like home coming for me. I was from the JMM and came back to my original home once again. My going to the JVM and BJP was a mistake and I realise this,” admitted Dulal Bhuiyan, appearing alongwith Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
No need to mention here that the salvation came only after he was denied ticket for Jugsalai Assembly constituency by the BJP, the party which he joined only about a month ago after spending his nearly two-year long stint with Babulal Marandi. “We have not invited anyone to come and join the party. If anyone has come it is without any pre-condition. Now when the BJP has entered into an understanding with the AJSU and decided to share the seats he was eyeing for with that party, he suddenly developed his affection to for the JMM and realised his mistake. This is sheer opportunism,” said a BJP leader.
Similarly, the BJP-AJSU alliance led to another hunt of the day when widow of Tileshwar Sahu was approached by the JMM to contest from Barhi. The BJP has fielded Umashankar Akela from the seat and it means that the AJSU would not bring its candidate into contest.
Though the party had assured after the killing of Tileshwar Sahu, who had been a rising star of the Sudesh Mahto-led party, to compensate with the ticket to Sabi Devi the JMM’s offer comes with emotional touch. “AJSU should not have dishonoured the family of a martyr. Our doors are open for all such people,” said Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
The list of disgruntled grows and also likely to include Gopal Krishna Patar if the firebrand leader from Tamar is denied the BJP ticket. As per indications coming in, the BJP may hand over the seat to the AJSU as per the understanding reached and this would prove detrimental to the leader who had jettisoned JD-U to join the saffron party a month ago. “I am hopeful. Even today I met Arjun Munda and the party has told me to keep patience and wait for some time. If something untoward happens I would consult my workers before taking the next step,” Patar told The Pioneer on Tuesday.
This apart, another AJSU leader Navin Jaiswal is also weighing his options as his sitting seat Hatia has fallen into BJP’s lap. Notwithstanding the protests, the BJP is likely to forge another alliance with Ram Vilas Paswan-led lok Janshakti Party too and spare one seat for it. Sources said Shikaripara seat in the Santhal Paragana, presently of the JMM, will be contested by the lJP. BJP election co-incharge for Jharkhand Bhupender Yadav had said on Monday in Delhi that the party would consider a proposal for seat-sharing from Paswan too.