All the mainstream political parties might be jostling against each other irrespective of their previous ‘understandings’, they are unanimous in treating the civil polls as one-off case, having least bearing on larger future alliances.
Instead, for many heavyweights the local body Elections have presented an opportunity to show their strength ahead of the next level battle.
Most interesting battle for the RMC’s two top posts in the form of Mayor and Deputy Mayor is on platter where close and seasoned allies are challenging each other on the mat.
“This Election is different from Assembly Elections where constituencies are bigger and issues are different. It is right that this time the Elections of Mayor and Deputy Mayor are taking place on party lines and from outside it is giving a sense of BJP verses AJSU. Otherwise previously theses candidates have been contesting without any huff. The contest is between candidates largely where party’s core policies are not going to be tested,” said Ranchi MlA and Minister CP Singh who is working tirelessly in the support of Asha lakra and Sanjiv Vijaywargiya for the top posts.
The names have been pitched against AJSU’s Kusum Ranjita Singh Munda and Munchun Rai notwithstanding the BJP having been in alliance with the Sudesh Mahto-headed party for more than a decade and still running the NDA’s Government with four of its MlAs.
“We have prior understanding with each other that local level politicking is not going to affect the larger understanding prevailing between the AJSU and BJP. We are sure to remain together for future Assembly and lok Sabha Elections in Jharkhand. “
“We have even instructed our candidates in fray to refrain from hitting out at party and instead focus on city based issues while convincing the voters to solve them. There is nothing like party barring the symbol,” said Deosharan Bhagat, general secretary of AJSU Party.
Notably, byelections for two Assembly seats, Silli and Gomia, are due soon after the UlB polls where both the partners would be sharing the dias and perhaps sharing the constituencies between them on the platter.
Similar is the scenario in the other camp which is in the process of coming out united under one roof called UPA.
Congress has clearly handed over the baton to JMM to lead the next Assembly and lok Sabha polls with others like JVM and RJD chipping in. Moreover, every partner is fighting against each other for RMC as well as in four other municipal corporations of the State.“Our understanding is intact for bigger Elections.
Here we are contesting for better governance at the local bodies which is different from policy formulation and running a Government.
People also understand that.Our top leadership would sit with an open mind when elections come in 2019-20,” said Rajiv Ranjan Prasad of the JPCC.