‘Give us all 14 Lok Sabha seats we will give you the dues’
Pramod Kumar from Ranchi
Explaining his mantra for development of the State Shri Modi said polling should become a mass movement for development in 2014. “If it happens we will make Jharkhand the State that Atalji had dreamed of and the benefits you have been expecting for long. Development is the only solution to all the problems including poverty,” he said while addressing the Vijay Sankalp Rally attended by over 2.5 lakh people. Noted Bhojpuri singer Manoj Tewari and scores of Jharkhand leaders including former Union Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha, former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Shri Karia Munda, State president Dr Ravindra Rai, former Chief Minister Shri Arjun Munda also addressed the rally.
Shri Modi held Congress responsible for the backwardness and deprivation of the people in Jharkhand. “There are immeasurable natural resources here and despite having so much human resources why the State is in the grip of poverty, unemployment, corruption, etc. The Congress even did not allow the people of the State for 50 years to take independent decisions. Vajpayeeji respected the people’s aspirations and made Jharkhand a separate State in 2000. Since then you have conducted many experiments in State politics, but the result has been very disappointing. Now time has come to take a decision from the heart. People of Chhattisgarh took wise decisions and the State has witnessed remarkable prosperity and development during the last 13 years,” he said.
BJP president Shri Rajnath Singh appealed to the people not to look at leader or political party but look at Modi because only he would turn all your dreams into a reality. Referring to naxalites active in the State for many years he said the battle for forest, water and land has to be fought with democracy and not with the bullets. Bullets can only snatch the life while a vote changes the destiny,” he said adding that only a strong Government can curb corruption in the State.
Abha Bharti, Ranchi
He came, he saw a vast crowed jostling to hear him, he roared “Thank you mere doston,” and he returned battle half won already. By the time Narendra Modi ended 36 minutes of his loud and explosion-ridden speech at Dhurwa Ground he had already shaken grounds of many and forced his opponents to concede — the 2014 parliamentary election will be between Modi and the rest.
For the BJP; this successful historic rally with around 2.5 lakh crowd jostling to hear Modi provided fresh blood to the party. For the Congress Modi has screwed the tap of oxygen even tighter.
It is still months to go for the parliamentary poll, but in Jharkhand the trenches have been dug and frontiers erected. “Wah bahut kuch ka sanket de gaye hain. Yah toh tay hai ki yah chunaav kam dangal adhik hoga, (he has dropped a lot of hints. One thing is definite that it is less going to be an election and more a scramble,)” said Ajit Jha a young entrepreneur. The Jharkhandi street oracle has already answered before the question can be popped.
Congress’ calculated strategy to form Government in the State, in July last year with an aim to forge poll alliance with the JMM doesn’t inspire any rosy prospect at this moment and it is diminishing with each passing day. It is not just because anti-incumbency factor is roasting this alliance; Modi’s roar across the country has polarised the politics in Jharkhand as well.
Modi has thrown open prospect. “Give us all 14 parliamentary seats and we will give Jharkhand its dues. Mind the coming five years will be crucial for the development of Jharkhand,” he told the gathering. Babulal Marandi of Jharkhand Vikash Morcha who all these months singularly vowed to keep Modi and his magic at way, suddenly felt the need of poll alliance in Jharkhand that too with the JD (U); the party which is inching to a slow death.
The chowk and chaupal chatter is clearly dominated by the newest entity dropping into this eddied crucible: Narendra Modi. Why this man was banished from Bihar’s political stage so long? Why Congress is deploying its dirty trick departments against this man? And it has whipped an exaggerated appetite for the man. Modi had become an enigma; more than just the BJP’s votaries has begun to want to explore it first hand: what’s this man all about?
“Such a massive attendance and that too self driven. Don’t you think ground is shifting fast? Modi has given an option and a clear vision. People are clearly favouring Modi now,” claimed State BJP general secretary Sunil Singh.
“At least one change is quite tactile,” commented Manish Kumar Choudhary in his 20s; whose understanding of politics ranges beyond his age, “regional parties emerging here was clearly at the cost of national parties. Modi has changed the discourse and it is BJP which is going to be benefitted because anger is shimmering against Congress. People now know that regional parties and their opportunistic bosses can’t be trusted.”
The upper caste and OBC votes are clearly polarising in favour of Modi. The dominant Mahato vote maybe soft towards AJSU Party in any assembly elections on the caste line; but in this big ticket game of parliamentary election this section is silently assessing Modi. The dominant Maithili, Bhojpuri and Magahi speaking Bihari voters residing in Jharkhand and the constituencies sharing borders and culture of Bihar have deep distrust towards Congress.
“Wah Modi ko dangai bolte hain lekin khud us se bhi adhik galat karte hain. Dekhiye unke mantri bolte hain ki wah ham Bihariyon ko yahan se khader dengi, (they allege Modi as riotous but they themselves are committing a big sin. See what their minister is saying. She will broom us out of Jharkhand),” said Vinod Pandey. Pandey refers to Congress’ HRD Minister Geetashree Oraon who is adamant to banish these languages from competitive examinations for teachers’ recruitment. Pandey echoes the voice of that 11 per cent of total linguistic constituency of Jharkhand which is in a combative mood.
Just after Modi’s rally Congress turned pugnacious against Modi beyond accepted decorum as leaders spoke in a foul language indicating their hopelessness. For the BJP the party needs to maintain the pitch and amplify in coming months. Extensive drive has been started to reconnect the party with Vanvasi voters which has jittered JMM and JVM.
In the last parliamentary election the BJP had a clear edge; winning eight seats. But the defeat in Jamshedpur parliamentary and other Assembly by-election suffocated the party and exposed faultline among party seniors. Modi’s rally has reunited party faction. “Modiji has a well calculated strategy he wants the party to reach each and every socio-economic segment. Around 1.5 people have been enrolled in NaMo mantra. Youths are attracted by his vision this is true in Jharkhand as well,” said Sanjay Seth of the BJP.
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