New Delhi: As the assembly election nears,
politics in Jharkhand is once again taking complex twists and
turns with friends turning foes and allies rivals.
Congress has aligned with Babulal Marandi-led JVM dumping
its old ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Lalu Prasad's RJD,
which are still supporting the UPA government at the Centre.
The strain in the JMM-Congress relationship was more than
visible when JMM chief Shibu Soren yesterday described
Congress as a party of "betrayers and opportunists" while
addressing a rally in Palamu.
Sources in JMM say that the party has taken very serious
note of Congress dumping it on the eve of the polls and will
not be averse to other permutations and combinations after the
assembly election results are out in Jharkhand.
"We had supported the UPA government during the Trust
Vote, when it was about to fall. We were later betrayed and
not given the promised ministerial berths at the Centre. Now
we have also been kept out of the alliance. Moreover, Congress
has inducted our known foes into their fold," said a senior
JMM leader on the condition of anonymity.
Congress inducted Stephen Marandi into its fold a few
months back. Marandi, who has served as Deputy Chief Minister
in two governments in Jharkhand, has been a friend-turned-foe
of Soren and hails from the same Santhal Paragana region,
which is the JMM's stronghold.
The old UPA in Jharkhand has virtually fallen into pieces
with Congress, JMM and RJD contesting separately. While
Congress refused to enter into alliance either with JMM or
RJD, the JMM too did not show any inclination for a tie-up
with RJD.
The party has already announced that it would contest
alone in all 81 constituencies in the state. Sources said the
JMM chief had earlier held discussions with LJP chief Ram
Vilas Paswan regarding a tie-up.
However, talks could not proceed as Paswan insisted on
keeping RJD into any such alliance, which was not acceptable
to Soren. The JMM chief was reportedly annoyed with Prasad for
his alleged opposition to his bid for Chief Ministership last
year.
RJD has already entered into an alliance with LJP and
Left parties into the state. Samajwadi Party, which is also
supporting UPA at the Centre, has also announced that it will
contest 40 seats in the state, where it has a very minuscule
presence.
SP state unit chief Banna Lal Gupta, however, left the
party and joined Congress a few days back. He has now been
fielded by Congress from his old seat of Jamshedpur West.
Bureau Report