Jharkhand is through the thick of a five-phase election schedule. The state passed through a phase of uncertainty in administration and had four chief ministers-two times Shri Shibu Soren, BJP’s Shri Arjun Munda and Shri Madhu Koda-and in between had two spells of President’s rule. In this drama of political manoeuvering and intrigue, the worst-sufferer the state and its people who lagged behind in development. BJP is leaving no stones unturned to regain power in alliance with JD(U). Organiser representative Amba Charan Vashishth spoke to the Jharkhand State BJP President Shri Raghubar Dass about the electoral scene in the state. Excerpts:
What is the electoral scene emerging in Jharkhand?
The electoral scene in the state is very clear. Since the last assembly elections the Congress-led UPA government through corrupt means and practices and with the connivance of the then Governor dishonoured the verdict of the people, which had emerged as the single-largest party. Congress conspired to prevent BJP from forming a government. All this while the Congress just looted Jharkhand and helped others too to loot it. No development worth the name took place in the state. The people are very angry and now yearning to teach Congress a lesson for this treachery with them and bring in BJP with a clear majority so that the state could develop and prosper in real terms.
Jharkhand remained under President’s rule twice. What has been its effect on the development of the state?
Under President’s rule the state experienced the worst-ever government. Under President’s rule there was expectation of good governance, but the opposite happened. Law and order became the worst casualty. Development was only on paper, not visible to the eyes. Congress and its allies turned the Governor’s office into a den of corruption. The CBI raids have exposed the alleged corruption of the then Governor Shri Sibte Rizvi’s PS and OSD and discovered benami property worth crores of rupees. Development was neglected and corruption prospered. People were cheated through successive governments thrust upon them by Congress through underhand means.
Why did the UPA delayed elections in the state?
Congress delayed elections as it wanted to manipulate a puppet government to promote its own political and electoral agenda. But despite all its manoeuvers and manipulations through allurements and threats, it failed to form a government. In the end, it was left with no other option but to order elections. In the meantime, it was only the poor people of Jharkhand who suffered a lot.
Who will be benefitted by the delay in holding the elections?
It will certainly not benefit the Congress. It did try to derive political benefit by delaying the elections because it was convinced that whenever elections are held, people would throw Congress out and vote BJP power. That is why UPA feared holding elections and wanted to delay it as much as it could.
When as Chief Minister Shri Shibu Soren was defeated in the Tamar Vidhan Sabha by-elections and no party, including BJP, was then in a position to form a government, Congress should have immediately dissolved the House and ordered fresh elections to give the people the opportunity to elect a government of their choice. Had the Congress done that, the situation would not have deteriorated and come to such a sitution as it is today. Congress extended its hand of patronage to Shri Madhu Koda and India’s worst Rs 3,000/4,000 crore scam committed by him has been exposed by the Income Tax Department and Enforcement Directorate. This scandal has made Jharkhand bow its head in shame in the country and the whole world.
Fingers were raised on the conduct of the earlier Governor. What is the position now?
The then Governor cannot escape the responsibility for what happened in the Raj Bhawan under his nose. He had to be shifted to Assam. BJP demands that he should be immediately dismissed and an independent inquiry ordered regarding his property too.
