Repercussions of near parallel elections in lohardaga have started manifesting as candidates in poll fray for Assembly by-elections have begun experiencing the void left after rural cadres compelled by their inclination towards panchayat elections switched their preferences to the electoral process giving the campaigning for by-elections a miss.
Notably, loharadaga Assembly constituency would go for poll on December 14 as the constituency’s hinterland would also vote for the three-tier Panchayati Raj Institution on December 12.
The absence and its impact on the election campaign is writ large even on the face of AJSU party candidate despite the constituency being often categorised as the party’s stronghold by virtue of two successive wins for its former candidate- Kamal Kishore Bhagat. Bhagat had bagged the seat in 2009 and 2014. However, the seat was vacated after his disqualification due to conviction in a local court in connection with a case of attempt to murder. Bhagat’s wife and AJSU’s candidate, Niru Shanti Bhagat, admitted a minor setback to the election campaign.
The AJSU party candidate said, “We are missing (party workers) to some extent as some of them are busy in Panchayat elections. However, my supporters are with me and it is not going to affect the result”.
The single problem has afflicted all the candidates irrespective of the party lines as the heat of Panchayat election is being felt by all and sundry who are aiming for a seat in the Jharkhand Assembly. Even as the alliance of AJSU-BJP is getting goose-bumps due to abstaining party workers, the question is far more serious for the party’s banking solely on their candidate’s profile and party’s support base in loharadaga. Although the riddle of missing cadres has been resolved, there is little that a candidate can do besides, improvising the campaign strategy. Sources in Jharkhand Vikas Morcha confided that some of the active workers are contesting Panchayat elections whereas the less active ones are busy in scripting success in panchayat polls.
“This was bound to happen because of the election schedules. Those who wished to contest panchayat elections have gone to fulfil their aspirations,” said JVM candidate Bandhu Tirkey, adding,”I have improvised my election strategy accordingly”.
Nonetheless, the Congress-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha alliance exhibited confidence about holding respective party men together and also expressed benefits of contesting election together in terms of strength of workers for the alliance candidate Sukhdeo Bhagat. Sources in the Congress acknowledged the benefit of contesting election together and a close aide of the alliance’s candidate said, “The problem is more serious for those who are contesting alone but we as alliance are relatively in a better position”.
Incidentally, result for lohardaga Assembly seat is likely to be declared on December 17 which is also the day for counting of votes.