EC prepones Jharkhand state assembly election

Ruhi Tiwari

Wed, Oct 28 2009

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced a preponement of the first phase of the Jharkhand state assembly election to 25 November from the earlierdate of 25 November. According to the EC, this was decidedafter taking into consideration ”representations received from different political parties and also inputs from the ministry of home affairs, Government of India and the state government of Jharkhand.”

The last date of nomination will be 7 November. Thirty of the 81 assembly constituencies go to polls in the first phase. The other four phases would be held on 2, 8, 12 and 18 December respectively. The date of counting – 23 December – remains unchanged. Jharkhand has been one of the states most affected by Maoist rebellion and security as well as logistical concerns for deployment of forces are behind holding a five-phase poll in the state.

[Source: http://www.livemint.com/2009/10/28195908/EC-prepones-Jharkhand-state-as.html

RJD-LJP may ally with CPI for Jharkhand polls

TNN 29 October 2009, 04:33am IST

PATNA: RJD is likely to contest Jharkhand assembly polls in alliance with CPI and Ramvilas Paswan-led LJP.

Party’s Jharkhand leaders, including state unit president Gautam Sagar Rana and senior leader Girinath Singh, called on RJD supremo Lalu Prasad here on Wednesday to apprise him of the ground realities in Jharkhand and also of pros and cons of having alliance with CPI and other parties.

CPI senior leaders Ravindra Rai and Badri Narayan too met Lalu, giving credence to reports of likely alliance.

“Talks are in preliminary stage but we hope to reach a seat-sharing agreement with like-minded parties to ensure consolidation of secular votes,” RJD national general secretary Ram Kripal Yadav told TOI.

Yadav said LJP is already an ally and the issue of seat-sharing with it would be taken up soon.

He said his party’s Jharkhand unit leaders were in touch with Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) as well. “It is too early to comment on a possible alliance with JVM but we will certainly try for more and more secular parties to come under one umbrella so as to defeat communal forces,” Ram Kripal added.

Asked about the Congress’s stand of not having any truck with RJD which may lead to gains for BJP in Jharkhand, the RJD leader said, “Our leader did make an effort and called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi. If Congress has decided to go alone, we cannot do much.”

[Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/RJD-LJP-may-ally-with-CPI-for-Jharkhand-polls/articleshow/5173489.cms ]

Congress undecided on Jharkhand

STAFF WRITER

New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) Congress today remained undecided whether to go it alone in poll-bound Jharkhand or tie up with regional parties.

“Majority of our party workers in Jharkhand want Congress to go it alone in the Assembly polls there. When it comes to having alliance, some want a tie-up with Shibu Soren’s JMM while others prefer an alliance with Babu Lal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha,” Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.

Ahmed, a member of the high power committee of Congress to assess political situation in the state, however said the party leaders are unanimous in their decision not to have any truck with RJD.

“We have apprised the central leadership regarding all these views and a final decision would be taken shortly,” Ahmed said. The five-phase election in the state is scheduled to begin from November 27.

[Source: http://www.ptinews.com/news/350269_Congress-undecided-on-Jharkhand ]

Bihar political parties go fortune hunting in Jharkhand

27 Oct 2009, 2206 hrs IST, Ashok K Mishra, ET Bureau

PATNA: Suddenly, Bihar too finds itself in the thick of political action following the announcement of the Jharkhand Assembly poll schedule. This

heightened political activity could be because a number of Bihar centric political outfits like RJD, JD(U) and even LJP may be eyeing to bolster their political prospects in the neighbouring state.

In fact, the RJD, which by no means is a pushover in Jharkhand and boasts of its own pockets of influence, can again hope to play kingmaker in the post-poll scenario.

That the wily RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav with 7 party legislators had controlled the political events in Jharkhand leading to the installation of Madhu Koda (Independent) government could be a clear pointer to how seriously he will engage himself in the Jharkhand electoral battle.

Left to himself, Lalu will be harbouring the prospect of a hung Assembly and will very much like to be counted in the government formation exercise with an improved electoral performance.

The JD(U) too has begun working on its poll strategy even though it remains hamstrung by the fact that it has been shunned by its alliance partner BJP which has declared to go solo in the polls. The JD(U) had won 6 seats when it contested the polls in 2005 in alliance with the saffron party, though some of its legislators like Radha Krishna Kishore and Inder Singh Namadhari (now an MP) had subsequently deserted the party.

The BJP’s refusal to do political business with the JD(U) for the ensuing polls will be a setback for the party (JD-U), which is now scouting for new political partners in Jharkhand. But the JD(U) has managed to rope in Raja Peter who emerged as a giant-killer after vanquishing the then chief minister Shibu Soren in the by-election to the Tamar Assembly seat.

Peter turned up in Patna on Monday to join the JD(U) in the presence of the chief minister, raising hopes that his ‘political charisma’ will rub on the party rank and file to good effect. “Raja Peter has already shown what he is capable of by mauling even Guruji. His entry into the JD(U) will help the party stand in good stead in Jharkhand,” said JD(U) MLC Bhim Singh who is overseeing party affairs in Jharkhand.

Interestingly, the LJP will be willing to make a political statement in Jharkhand where it will contest the election in alliance with the RJD and will be fondly hoping to open its account in the state assembly this time. Both Lalu and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan will, however, very much wish to broaden their alliance into a more credible secular front comprising the Congress, JMM, Jharkhand Vikas Party along with the RJD-LJP combine.

But it seems less likely that the Congress will be inclined to stitch an alliance with the RJD fearing the adverse political ramifications it can cause to the party (Congress ) in Bihar where it has already indicated that it will not touch the RJD with a bargepole. The RJD will discuss all such issues and its Jharkhand poll strategy in the party meeting convened here at the official residence of opposition leader Rabri Devi on Wednesday. “We are also exploring the idea of forging alliance with the CPI,” said senior RJD leader Ram Kripal Yadav.

[Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Bihar-political-parties-go-fortune-hunting-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/5169953.cms ]

Congress women’s wing keen to contest on 21 seats

TNN 28 October 2009, 06:54am IST

RANCHI: The women’s wing of the state Congress on Tuesday staked claim to 21 seats in the coming election in Jharkhand.

The resolution was passed at the meeting of the women’s wing chaired by state president Pratibha Pandey.

Sources in Congress said the women members of the party have also prepared a list of probable candidates and the constituencies from where they are planning to contest the election. The list will be handed over to the screening committee of the party headed by Union minister Mukul Wasnik who is expected to reach Ranchi on Wednesday.

The meeting of the election committee to finalize the names of the probable candidates will take place here in the presence of in-charge of party affairs in Jharkhand K Keshav Rao and Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay.

Supporting the resolution passed by the women’s wing, Pandey said women members of the party put in equal efforts to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. “There are 81 seats in the Assembly out of which we have demanded just 21 seats,” said Pandey.

She expressed hope for better performance of the party in the coming election if women candidates are fielded. “Women have good image in the society and voters will definitely vote for us,” said Pandey.

[Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Congress-womens-wing-keen-to-contest-on-21-seats/articleshow/5170333.cms ]

Maoists change tack, leave alone passengers

27 Oct 2009, 2206 hrs IST, Ashok K Mishra, ET Bureau

PATNA: Suddenly, Bihar too finds itself in the thick of political action following the announcement of the Jharkhand Assembly poll schedule. This

heightened political activity could be because a number of Bihar centric political outfits like RJD, JD(U) and even LJP may be eyeing to bolster their political prospects in the neighbouring state.

In fact, the RJD, which by no means is a pushover in Jharkhand and boasts of its own pockets of influence, can again hope to play kingmaker in the post-poll scenario.

That the wily RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav with 7 party legislators had controlled the political events in Jharkhand leading to the installation of Madhu Koda (Independent) government could be a clear pointer to how seriously he will engage himself in the Jharkhand electoral battle.

Left to himself, Lalu will be harbouring the prospect of a hung Assembly and will very much like to be counted in the government formation exercise with an improved electoral performance.

The JD(U) too has begun working on its poll strategy even though it remains hamstrung by the fact that it has been shunned by its alliance partner BJP which has declared to go solo in the polls. The JD(U) had won 6 seats when it contested the polls in 2005 in alliance with the saffron party, though some of its legislators like Radha Krishna Kishore and Inder Singh Namadhari (now an MP) had subsequently deserted the party.

The BJP’s refusal to do political business with the JD(U) for the ensuing polls will be a setback for the party (JD-U), which is now scouting for new political partners in Jharkhand. But the JD(U) has managed to rope in Raja Peter who emerged as a giant-killer after vanquishing the then chief minister Shibu Soren in the by-election to the Tamar Assembly seat.

Peter turned up in Patna on Monday to join the JD(U) in the presence of the chief minister, raising hopes that his ‘political charisma’ will rub on the party rank and file to good effect. “Raja Peter has already shown what he is capable of by mauling even Guruji. His entry into the JD(U) will help the party stand in good stead in Jharkhand,” said JD(U) MLC Bhim Singh who is overseeing party affairs in Jharkhand.

Interestingly, the LJP will be willing to make a political statement in Jharkhand where it will contest the election in alliance with the RJD and will be fondly hoping to open its account in the state assembly this time. Both Lalu and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan will, however, very much wish to broaden their alliance into a more credible secular front comprising the Congress, JMM, Jharkhand Vikas Party along with the RJD-LJP combine.

But it seems less likely that the Congress will be inclined to stitch an alliance with the RJD fearing the adverse political ramifications it can cause to the party (Congress ) in Bihar where it has already indicated that it will not touch the RJD with a bargepole. The RJD will discuss all such issues and its Jharkhand poll strategy in the party meeting convened here at the official residence of opposition leader Rabri Devi on Wednesday. “We are also exploring the idea of forging alliance with the CPI,” said senior RJD leader Ram Kripal Yadav.

[Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Bihar-political-parties-go-fortune-hunting-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/5169953.cms ]

Congress sharpens focus on poll-bound Jharkhand

Bhaskar Roy , TNN 26 October 2009

NEW DELHI: After its clean sweep of three states in the just-concluded assembly elections, Congress has sharpened its focus on poll-bound Jharkhand by deciding to chuck the RJD as an alliance partner and go to the electorate on a good-governance plank.

A day after results came from Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, several senior party leaders met here to work out the Jharkhand strategy, striking a balance between its tribal and non-tribal faces.

While tribal leader Pradeep Balmuchu continues to head the party in Jharkhand, it has decided to appoint two new working presidents — Furkhan Ansari and Rajendra Prasad Singh.

Again, if Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay is heading the campaign committee, the party’s prominent tribal face, Rameswar Oraon, will be the chairman of the manifesto committee.

Taking note of a new-found confidence and strong anti-alliance mood of its workers in the state, the party has begun making overtures to the JMM with the rider that its supremo Shibu Soren need not necessarily be projected as the chief ministerial candidate.

In a clever attempt to derive advantage from the impressive victory run, the party has decided to make good governance and stability its major plank.

It has decided to make an appeal to the people for “one chance” recalling that ever since the creation of the predominantly tribal state in 2000, the party has never got the mandate to head a government.

Pointing to the `dismal’ record of the parties at the helm of affairs in the state, Congress has decided to warn the electorate that a state badly hit by naxalites can be best ruled by a party with long experience of governance.

The meetings chaired by party incharge for Jharkhand Keshava Rao were attended by Union ministers Mukul Wasnik and Sahay, and party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed.

According to sources, the party will make an emotive pitch for one opportunity to rule the state and remind voters that its ministers in the Bihar government had resigned to facilitate the creation of the state.

[Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Congress-sharpens-focus-on-poll-bound-Jharkhand/articleshow/5161015.cms ]

JMM scouting for new allies in Jharkhand

PTI, STAFF WRITER

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) With Congress deciding not to align with JMM for coming assembly polls in Jharkhand, the tribal party has begun moves to scout for new allies.

Sources said JMM chief Shibu Soren today held a discussion in this regard with LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan about a possible tie-up for the elections in the state.

Soren was learnt to be disinclined for any political tie-up with Lalu Prasad-led RJD because of Prasad’s role in “stalling” his candidature for Chief Ministership last year.

Soren had become CM replacing Madhu Koda but resigned later after he lost in an assembly by-election paving the way for President’s Rule in the state.

LJP is in allince with RJD in Bihar and Jharkhand and the JMM supremo has hence been clearly told that any future such alliance will necessarily have RJD into it, sources said.

[Source: http://www.ptinews.com/news/348609_JMM-scouting-for-new-allies-in-Jharkhand ]

 

 

Cong wants reschedule of polls in Jharkhand

PTI, STAFF WRITER

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) A delegation of Congress leaders today submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner demanding reschedule of the first and fifth phases of the assembly polls in Jharkhand.

Both November 27 (first phase) and December 18 (fifth phase) fall on Friday and it should be rescheduled to enable the Muslims to vote in large numbers, the memorandum said.

The first phase of the polls is on Friday, which would be an important day for the community, and Bakrid falls on the next day (November 28). The last phase of polls on December 18 is also a Friday, it said.

The delegation comprised of AICC in-charge of the state K Keshava Rao, PCC President P K Balmuchu and others.

The leaders said Bakrid is a very important festival of the Muslims and the members of the community will be engaged in observing rituals concerning the festival.

[Source: http://www.ptinews.com/news/348536_Cong-wants-reschedule-of-1st--5th-phase-polls-in-Jharkhand ]

 

No BJP CM candidate for Jharkhand

27 Oct 2009, 0156 hrs IST, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI : Bogged down by a bitter infighting among its state-level leaders, BJP has decided to approach the ensuing assembly elections in

Jharkhand without projecting any chief ministerial candidate.

Unlike states such as Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, where the leadership sweepstakes were clear and BJP had easily identifiable leaders in Mr P K Dhumal and Mr B S Yeddyurappa, respectively, to be pushed as potential chief ministers, the scenario in Jharkhand is muddled.

Despite the exit of Mr Babulal Marandi, the saffron party in Jharkhand is split down the middle, with the Arjun Munda-Raghuvar Das faction being opposed by the rest of the party. Mr Munda, who was earlier this year shifted to the national arena, has the backing of party president Rajnath Singh.

Former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha too has thrown his hat in the ring, but has not found many takers for his candidature among the party’s central leaders.

“Former chief minister has announced in Jharkhand today that the assembly polls in the state will be fought under collective leadership. I’ve nothing more to add,’’ Mr Arun Jaitley said in response to queries about the party’s chief ministerial candidate.

In fact, various factions of the BJP in the state have been working at cross-purposes. There are thus fears that the party may have frittered away the gains notched by it during the Lok Sabha polls, when it bagged 8 of the 14 seats from Jharkhand.

Since its inception on November 15, 2000, the state has been steered by tribals, who account for some 27% of the electorate. In the nine years of its existence, the leadership baton has passed through the hands of Mr Babulal Marandi, Mr Arjun Munda (twice), Mr Madhu Koda and Mr Shibu Soren (twice) —all of whom are STs.

With the exception of Mr Marandi, whose tenure was marked by all-round development, none of the other chief ministers could boast to have been successful in providing a clean and efficient government, with the state’s progress taking a big hit.

[ Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/No-BJP-CM-candidate-for-Jharkhand/articleshow/5166474.cms ]