RJD wary of ‘M’ factor
Bhoomihars may not go along BJP
Patna, February 10
With just four days left for the crucial second phase of polling in Bihar, the “M” (Muslim) factor and ‘B’ (Bhoomihar) factor appears to be the ‘fear factors’ for the RJD and the BJP, respectively, as any split in these two communities could prove to be damaging for both parties.

Bihar Congress President and party candidate from Patna (Central) Ramjatan Sinha bows to seek the blessings of Maulana Syed Nizamuddin, Chief of Imarat-e-Shariya, at Phulwari Sharif in Patna. — PTI

Lack of growth not an issue
Simdega, February 10
Even as they face severe scarcity of basic amenities, lack of development is not a poll issue in Simdega. The voters still seem to go by their religion and caste affiliations. Though conversion is not on issue for the BJP in this minority-dominated constituency, there is an undercurrent of religions polarisation. Both the BJP and the Congress are making their calculations on factors of caste and religion.

Cong men support JMM grudgingly
Party unwilling to commit on Shibu’s claims to be CM
Gumla (Jharkhand),  February 10
The arrival of Congress President Sonia Gandhi here tomorrow may be a signpost in the lives of party workers here but they are not visibly happy. They grudge that the seat should have been contested by the Congress not the party’s alliance partner,the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Catholic priest in the fray
Ranchi, February 10
A Catholic church priest is contesting the Assembly elections in Jharkhand. Father Albinus Murmu (36) is contesting from the Shikaripara constituency. Despite requests from church leaders he did not withdraw his nomination papers. Yesterday was the last date for withdrawal of papers.

RJD wary of ‘M’ factor
Bhoomihars may not go along BJP
S Satyanarayanan
Tribune News Service

Patna, February 10
With just four days left for the crucial second phase of polling in Bihar, the “M” (Muslim) factor and ‘B’ (Bhoomihar) factor appears to be the ‘fear factors’ for the RJD and the BJP, respectively, as any split in these two communities could prove to be damaging for both parties.

With exit polls of the first phase of poll on February 3 reflecting a split in the traditional M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) votebank of Laloo Prasad Yadav’s RJD, the continuation of the same trend in the second phase of polls on February 15 (86 seats are going to the polls), will be a big cause of concern for Laloo.

Since Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Congress are contesting separately and not in alliance with the RJD, poll analysts here feel that the 2005 Assembly poll could spring a big surprise with the Muslims having two other options other than the RJD to vote for.

Of the 86 seats, the RJD had won 42 seats in the 2000 Assembly poll in the undivided Bihar, while the JD (U)-Samata combine (now it is JD(U)) won 15, the BJP 11, the Congress eight and others and Independent 10 seats.

With the Congress and the LJP deciding to go it alone and the BJP and JD(U) putting up a combined fight, the headache of the RJD has grown manifold — the possible division in Muslim votes, the anti-incumbency factor etc.

In areas like Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Kishanganj, Purnea and Kathihar, where there are 38 Assembly seats, Muslims play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the candidates.

On the other hand, for the JD(U)-BJP combine, which is trying to project itself as the only viable alternative to dethrone the 15-year-old RJD rule, the ‘B’ factor appears to be the major worrying factor.

Although Bhoomihars account for just 3 to 4 per cent, in a majority of the upper caste dominated seats, the BJP-JD(U) combine would need their crucial support to register victory. According to analysts Bhoomihars are disenchanted with the BJP and there could be a division in their votes.

However, in a desperate attempt to tide over this factor, the BJP has played the ‘K-3’ card and projected JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate in Bihar. ‘K-3’ stands for Kurmi, Koeri and Khushwaha castes which together account for about 10 per cent of the state’s population. Mr Naresh Kumar, hailing from the Kurmi caste, becomes the natural leader as the three castes share traditional social ties and may demonstrate a uniform voting behaviour. 

Lack of growth not an issue
Tribune News Service

Simdega, February 10
Even as they face severe scarcity of basic amenities, lack of development is not a poll issue in Simdega. The voters still seem to go by their religion and caste affiliations. Though conversion is not on issue for the BJP in this minority-dominated constituency, there is an undercurrent of religions polarisation. Both the BJP and the Congress are making their calculations on factors of caste and religion.

Top leaders of both the BJP and the Congress will address rallies here in the next two days. BJP president L.K. Advani will come here tomorrow while Congress President Sonia Gandhi will address an election rally in the town on February 11. The Congress camp is sure of the lasting impact of the rally by its party chief.

Nearly 70 per cent villages of this constituency which borders both Chattisgarh and Orissa have no electricity. Villages, which are merely 3 km from the town, have families which do not have enough to eat. The land holdings are small and the one crop that grows in a year is dependent on rainfall.

“The most conmon demand of villagers is the below the poverty-line ration card which entitles them to subsidised food. The BJP government has falled to provide ration cards to the poor families,” says Mr Niel Tirki, the Congress condidate from Simdega, who also won the election in 2000.

Simdega has been a Congress stronghold with the party winning both seats in the district in the 2000 poll.

The seat is being constested by the JD(U) in this election. “The BJP had litle hope of winning this seat, so they gave it to their alliance partner,” says Theodor Kiro, the Congress candidate from Kolebira. Nearly 70 per cent population of the two constituencies is tribal. 

Cong men support JMM grudgingly
Party unwilling to commit on Shibu’s claims to be CM
Prashant Sood
Tribune News Service

Gumla (Jharkhand), February 10
The arrival of Congress President Sonia Gandhi here tomorrow may be a signpost in the lives of party workers here but they are not visibly happy. They grudge that the seat should have been contested by the Congress not the party’s alliance partner,the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The disappointment is as much to do with the choice of the JMM candidate as with the feeling that the Congress has conceded its space to a regional party.

Though the Congress had finished third after the JMM in this seat in the 2000 poll, party workers believe that conditions were favourable for the party in Gumla in this election.

Unable to check their disappointment, two Congress leaders have jumped into the fray as Independents. Many senior district Congress leaders are apprehensive about their chances in the future. “Congress leaders here feel that a JMM victory will come in the way of their contesting the seat in the future elections. They are not working enthusiastically” says Vinod Singh, a resident of Gumla.

Candidates from “tribal parties” have also made the going tough for the JMM, which has put up a new candidate from the seat.

Unlike neighbouring Jashpur in Chhattisgarh where conversion was a major poll issue for the BJP in the last elections, no such attempts are being made by the BJP here. Though Mr Dilip Singh Judeo is a well-known name in the town, he has not come for the BJP campaign.

BJP candidate Sudershan Bhagat, Minister for Tribal Welfare in the Arjun Munda Government, has made special efforts to woo the tribesmen.

The state government has shown no slackness here in implementing its programme of distributing bicycles among school-going children of families below the poverty line. It has also given subsidised buses to groups of tribesmen. But the welfare steps have not been without problems for Mr Bhagat . A section of the poor among the other castes being unhappy at their children being deprived of bicycles.

The BJP had won all three seats in Gumla district in the 2000 elections. Party president L.K. Advani addressed a rally in the district today. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh will campaign in Gumla on Saturday. BJP cadres are only too pleased by the “disarray “ in the opposition camp.

The disappointment among Congress workers with seat distribution is not limited to Gumla. There are several seats in the state where Congress workers feel they were in a better position to defeat the BJP than the JMM. They feel that JMM has walked away with better seats in the pact between the two parties. There is also a feeling that the Congress should have contested the poll alone.

The joint rally tomorrow by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and JMM chief Shibu Soren is being seen as an attempt by the two parties to remove misgivings among their workers ahead of the crucial second phase election to 29 seats. Ms Gandhi’s gesture of a joint meeting, the first in these Assembly elections, is also being seen in the context of demoralisation in the JMM ranks over the recent rift between its top two leaders. With Mr Stephen Marandi having declared his intention of continuing in the UPA, the Congress sees no harm in further strengthening the hands of Mr Soren. However, the Congress is in no mood to commiton Mr Soren’s claims to the post of Chief Minister.

Catholic priest in the fray

Ranchi, February 10
A Catholic church priest is contesting the Assembly elections in Jharkhand. Father Albinus Murmu (36) is contesting from the Shikaripara constituency.

Despite requests from church leaders he did not withdraw his nomination papers. Yesterday was the last date for withdrawal of papers.

Father Murmu is contesting the elections on the United Gaon Democratic Party ticket. Father Murmu is attached to the Dumka parish.

Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, who is also the President of Catholic Bishop Conference of India, the highest decision-making body, has ordered for immediate suspension of Father Murmu after official verification. — UNI

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