It had turned into a big furore when a Bengali newspaper had reported ahead of lok Sabha polls in April this year that all is not well amongst the Sorens - the first family of Jharkhand headed by JMM patriarch and vintage Shibu Soren and dominated now by his son and Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The news story had suggested that the CM turned into Mughal emperor "Aurangzeb" for keeping his father "Shahjahan" Shibu Soren under a siege!
The theory has raised its head this time when Assembly polls are just around the corner for the last phase. This time the characters have been replaced and family's badi bahu Sita and 'laxman'; her brother-in-law Hemant, are reported to have been in a similar situation. Though under the wraps for long, the reportedly sore relations between 'Sita' and 'laxman' has come to the surface, if workers and supporters of the Jama candidate are to be believed.
"Campaigning and consultations with the voters have not been so intense and effective as it has been earlier. We are facing fund crunch as well and cadres are not being given weightage. Somehow a motor cycle rally was organised on Tuesday in which not more than 50 bikes could be arranged," said an estranged JMM worker Shantu Marandi who is managing the campaigning of Sita Soren at Jama.
When asked about the reason behind the snub meted out to the senior family member-over thousand bikers took part in a road show of Hemant a day before the campaigning for December 20 poll ended on Thursday at Dumka-he points to the decision taken at the leadership level. "The family support could have been better for Madam. The decision in this regard would have been taken at the leadership level."
The heartburn about the fanfare prevalent on the streets of neighbouring Dumka, the constituency where Hemant Soren is JMM's candidate and complete contrast at Jama is one aspect to shed tears upon for Sita's cadres. "She has been in difficulties due to the cases filed against her. She could not campaign and focus on the constituency freely ahead of the polls. Had the family supported her, she would not have been in jail. Kami rahi hai unki taraf se. Dekh rekh nahi kar paye," said somber looking Muthesh Murmu of Mudmala village.
The widow of the elder brother of the CM had to go into jail for 'cash-for-vote' scandal surfaced during Rajya Sabha polls and for abducting a witness related to the case. Nevertheless, the charge and her going into legal confinement, the issue is hardly anything to do for her supporters and JMM cadres.
"These are no issues here. We don't believe this. She could not get proper family support. Despite all this, the fatherly figure of Shibu Soren and his contribution in Jharkhand formation is still present deep into the hearts and minds of the people of the area. This should be enough for her to sail through this time again," said Sufal Murmu, campaign in-charge of the candidate.
However, Hemant Soren has participated in two election meetings in the constituency at Kerabani and Bhuskibadi and Shibu at Shikarpur. "This is not a reality. As party's leader he has to focus all the places," said JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya overruling the notion.