The Sudesh Mahto-led AJSU Party will not be a part of the Opposition parties’ ambitious effort to bring smaller, regional and national parties together on the issues of land Acquisition Ordinance and Domicile policy that touch the sentiments of the local population most. The party will rather use the outcome of the deliberations made by the Opposition parties in a positive way in the interest of the State.
After Tuesday’s meeting between JMM leader Hemant Soren and JVM legislature party leader Pradeep Yadav in Dumka, a meeting has been called here tomorrow inviting all the parties, except BJP. “Though the official agenda is to discuss issues like land acquisition and domicile policy for the State, the meeting will hold deliberations on forming an alternative to the BJP,” said a senior JVM leader.
Interestingly, the Opposition, playing the regional card, is also said to have called the AJSU MlAs, disgruntled with the delay in Cabinet expansion, in the meeting to lure them into the fold in the name of domicile, land issues and other local issues. “We have called all likeminded parties that want development of the State without compromising on the local issues. There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed by the Government keeping the interest of the original habitants of State as priority,” said JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya.
He also said that the AJSU Party MlAs too have been invited. “It is up to the AJSU leaders to decide whether they want to stay with corporates running the government in Jharkhand or with those who want the rule of Jharkhandis here,” he added. However, AJSU legislature party leader Chandra Prakash Chaudhary, who also happens to be a Minister in the Raghubar Cabinet, said that there was neither any invitation from the Opposition parties nor the party MlAs willing to attend any such meeting.
Party spokesperson Deosharan Bhagat also said that he had no official intimation of any meeting taking place in Ranchi. “We had a pre-poll alliance and we stay in the ruling coalition. There is no question of joining the Opposition’s chorus. At the same time, it should be remembered that we will support the cause of people of Jharkhand,” Bhagat said.
“If some positive issues come out of the Opposition parties’ meeting we will accept that wholeheartedly. We will also comment on policy issues at the right time and right forum. The rights of the people of Jharkhand should not be compromised at any cost and if this happens we will raise the issues at the right forum like the Assembly, Cabinet, NDA platform where policy decisions are taken,” he added. Sources said that the Opposition leaders are in touch with the AJSU boss Sudesh Mahto, who has assured to join the bandwagon at ‘right moment’.
Meanwhile, Congress legislature party leader Alamgir Alam will join the Opposition parties in tomorrow’s meeting. JPCC spokesperson lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo said that Alam will attend the meeting given the fact that issues related to Budget Session of Assembly, land Acquisition and strengthening the Opposition will be discussed in the meeting.
Notably, despite such hue and cry the Opposition has neither fixed the venue of the meeting nor the timings. Sources said that the meeting may take place at JMM chief Shibu Soren’s residence in the afternoon. The JMM leaders were busy in their party programme at Dhanbad till late evening.