With barely two years left in the next Assembly elections, all parties in the Opposition, for the first time, assembled on a platform provided by social-tribal groups working primarily against recent land related agitations. The attempt to sow seeds of unity to counter the ruling BJP thought could not derive any concrete formula where so many political outfits could burry their personal goals and agendas.
leaders starting from largest party in Opposition JMM to Congress, JVM, CPI, RJD and rest of others were present at ‘BJP Hatao-Jharkhand Bhacaho’ rally organised under Sarna banner on Tuesday at Morhabadi with social activists Dayamani Barla, Gladson Dungdung,Vasvi Kido and Birender Bhagat pushing for the need to come together ahead of the elections chipping in.
Noted tribal activist Birender Bhagat addressing the gathering of 10,000-odds coming from different parts of the State cautioned the political heavy weights of the likes of Babulal Marandi, Sobodh Kant Sahay, Sukhdeo Bhagat, Gautam Sagar Rana of the RJD and others that no party should think over coming into power by fighting in isolation.
“If anyone of you is assuming that you would contest all the 81 seats and form your Government in 2019 then you are living in fools’ paradise. We tribal groups would support you if you all come together against the BJP. And if you fail to do so, then we would oppose even you,” said Bhagat exerting pressure on the Opposition parties and set the tone of the rally, brainchild of former MlA Bandhu Tirkey. Dayamani Barla also called on the parties to shun their differences and come one step forward just like social organisation for the common goal.
Nevertheless all the prominent leaders underlined the need for Opposition’s unity but none could present any amicable formula and instead left the issue to be decided in quite some time. “The State is in turmoil. The Government is failing to understand pulse of thousands of displaced, poor, farmers and tribals. They are just going to loot the land for the outsiders. land is for outsiders, jobs are for outsiders. In the situation like this we all Jharkhandis together can save the State from getting ruined from an outsider (Chief Minister Raghubar Das was referred as Chhattisgarhri during the rally.). This is a beginning in that direction which would shut doors for the BJP in 2019,” said JVM chief Babulal Marandi.
Congress representatives Subodh Kant Sahay, PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat, Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Balmuchu and former Minister Geeta Shree Oraon reiterated CNT-SPT and land related amendments, domicile policy and several firing incidents taken place at Badkagaon, Gola and other places as watershed moment for the Raghubar Das Government but no clear hint about coming into terms with parties like JMM, JVM was presented.
“land issue is the root issue in Jharkhand. We have seen so many incidents in recent times and leaders who raised their voice against the loot are thrown behind the bars. The Government coming to power in 2019 in the State would have to promise that any decision on the issues concerning tribals would not be taken without acquiring their consent,” said Sahay.
JVM general secretary Pradeep Yadav also said that the all the parties in Opposition would have to break their barriers and come together to uproot the BJP while RJD State president Gautam Sagar Rana painted his party as friend of tribals and stressed over the need of unity.
No word in this regard either came from JMM legislators—Amit Mahto and Paulis Surin—who in their addresses, focused on the “anti-poor’ policies and decisions taken by the Centre as well as the State Governments.