The Hindu : Other States / Jharkand News : NDA bracing for a tough fight in Jharkhand

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Monday, Dec 20, 2004

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Other States - Jharkand

NDA bracing for a tough fight in Jharkhand

RANCHI, DEC. 19. The ruling BJP-led NDA is getting ready for a tough fight to retain power in Jharkhand with the opposition UPA determined to oust it in the first assembly elections after the creation of the state four years ago.

On Friday, the Election Commission had announced election schedule for the three State assemblies of Haryana, Bihar and Jharkhand.

The members of the present 81-member House were elected during the time of the undivided Bihar government.

The opposition UPA had been encouraged by the routing of the NDA in the Lok Sabha election held seven months ago. The UPA, led by the Congress, had won 13 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP could secure only one seat with former Chief Minister and party's national vice-president Babulal Marandi being elected from Koderma constituency.

The UPA candidates had secured more votes than the NDA candidates in about 64 Assembly segments in that election.

According to political observers, it would be dificult for the NDA to retain power as the adivasis, who played a major role in creation of the new State, had different views on the performance of the present government. They alleged that the purpose for which the state was created had remained unfulfilled.

However, the population structure of the state was a different one. The tribal population is much below the non-tribal population.

In the present House, the BJP has 33 members and its alliance partner JD(U) 8. With four independents, the NDA enjoys the support of 46 legislators.

However, four JD(U) members disassociated from the party in protest against the appointment of former Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari as its state unit president.

There were also internal bickering in the BJP for which they had lost their seats in the Lok Sabha election.

On the other hand, the Congress-led UPA appears to be more united. The Congress had already completed their first phase programme to influence the voters against the alleged failure of the present government on various fronts, including meeting the situation arising out of drought condition in different parts.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda had announced to fight the election on the development plank and highlight the achievements of the ruling coalition government during the past four years.

``We will also highlight the UPA government's step-motherly treatment towards Jharkhand as also its performance during the last seven months in power,'' he said.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee,while addressing a meeting here recently, had appealed to the electorate to give the NDA another chance to rule the state so that they could complete the ongoing developmental projects. Mr Vajpayee had stressed that four years was too short a time to complete the developmental works.

On the other hand, the opposition Congress alleged that the present government was inefficient, corrupt and it had failed to contain crimes. The developmental projects were only in the paper but not excuted, they alleged.

The different adivasi organisations, including the All Adivasi Chatra Sangh, also strongly protested some of the government decisions, including the decision to include Kuri and Teli in the schedule tribe list.

But electorate are keeping a watch on different political parties to see how they play their cards as another major issue the naxalite problem was yet to solved.

UNI

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