JVM apex body to feel pulse over coalition call

Considering itself as an important cog in the coalition wheel — which is likely to come up in the State ahead of the major electoral battle —the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha’s supreme body would meet to clear their party’s stand on this.

The Central Working Committee of the Babulal Marandi led party is scheduled to meet on March 10-11 where, party insiders say, this  is going to be discussed on a priority basis.

“This is one of the major issues as we are getting representations from various quarters of the party pitching both in the coalition’s favour and against it. Majority of them are for coalition against the ruling BJP and it does not require much discussion. The matter would be examined to an extent at Bokaro in the course of deliberations,” said JVM principal generation secretary and MLA Pradeep Yadav.

Inputs suggest that there is a strong feeling inside the party to go it alone in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. Moreover, the party leadership is looking in no mood to encourage the sense of unease much.

“This is bound to happen since ground level workers and leaders aspire to contest elections. We have received some representations against the coalition. The decision is yet to be taken but we would have to consider the ground reality as well. There should not be a scenario in which the BJP gets a walkover due to infighting of the forces in the Opposition,” said a senior office-bearer of the JVM.

Nevertheless, the CWC meeting of the party is officially to go ahead reviewing its preparations for workers conferences at panchayat levels, expansion of the party’s presence at blocks and even further along with filling vacant positions of presidents, vice presidents and general secretaries down the line.

“Political situation in the State and policies of the incumbent Government are on the agenda and not the coalition subject since time is left for the next elections.

But it is surely at the back of our mind. Firstly, the matter would be settled with top leadership in consultation with other likeminded and willing parties of the State and then would be brought before CWC and Executive Committee,” said JVM vice president Saba Ahmed.

Facts are also coming up that considering its past relationships with the largest Opposition party of the State Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, party supremo Babulal Marandi has roped in the Congress to strike a deal with it. Congress leadership in the State has in recent times approached JMM top brass, including its executive president Hemant Soren.

“Congress has conveyed to Hemant Soren that being the leader of the Opposition he should take a lead in bringing all the parties together under a single banner. Some compromises are also required to be made by the JMM. Still, there are apprehensions in the JMM about the JVM but we are hopeful considering our long term political strategy to handle the BJP nationally as well as in Jharkhand in the next polls,” said a top Congress leader present during the consultations.