Buoyant Opp beams with confidence ahead of 2019 battle

Feeling vindicated after the thumping victory in Silli and Gomia bypolls, the united Opposition in the leadership of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) expressed confidence to dethrone the ruling BJP, both at the Centre and the State in 2019. Leaders belonging to the JMM, Congress and JVM, at the same time, doubled their commitment towards the unity.

Soon after the results of the bypolls were declared on Thursday afternoon, leader of Opposition and JMM executive president Hemant Soren called a press conference where he was joined by leaders of Congress, JVM and other parties.

“Flares of the victory would reach up to Delhi. We have done our preparations for a bigger battle. This is an indication of better avenues ahead of 2019. The voters have slapped the BJP government for its misdeeds at most of the places where bypolls have taken place. Our struggle for the farmers, youths and women would continue until we liberate the country from the BJP,” roared Hemant Soren.

He also sought resignation from Chief Minister Raghubar Das as he read the bypoll results a snub given to the State Government from the people while thanking the voters and the leaders from the Opposition camp.

“It is good that all the parties in the Opposition camp took part into the polls together and worked for a strong fortification. This is also a victory for democracy and patience over the politics of arrogance, misbehavior and conspiracy. The people have rejected a Government full of mis-governance, corruption and hatred. Taking moral responsibility of the mandate of the people the Chief Minister should immediately resign from his position,” added the defacto JMM boss.

JVM supremo Babulal Marandi while terming the poll outcomes inevitable looked it as a good sign for the future polls. “This is more a win for the grand alliance along with of the JMM and the results were quite known well in advance. The seats were with the JMM and when all the parties like Congress, JVM, RJD and the Left came together there was not an iota of doubt about the win. This is an indication to the requirement of a grand alliance for 2019 which has now proven prowess to wipeout the BJP from the Centre and the State,” said the former chief minister.

Marandi also alleged the BJP for misusing power in trying to win elections and referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s May 25 visit to the State as an example. “The PM coming to Dhanbad just ahead of the bypolls was clear misuse of power and was an attempt to influence the voters. Even then, the people did not vote for the NDA and the BJP. This shows that if we all contest elections together then there would not any mark of the BJP in 2019,” said Marandi.

PCC chief Ajoy Kumar drove down to Hemant Soren and termed the victory crucial. He also expressed confidence that the next Government in the State would be formed in the leadership of the JMM leader.

Former State Congress president and Lohardaga MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat saw it as an indication to a better tomorrow for the parties in the Opposition. “The PM does ‘maan ki baat’ while BJP does ‘dhan ki baat’. This win is a defeat of arrogance of power. Anger of the people has been vented out. We in the leadership of the JMM won the semi-final and sure to win the final as well,” said Bhagat.

AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto while accepting the defeat and sending congratulatory messages to JMM candidates hinted to review the coalition with the BJP.

On the other, most of the leaders in the BJP camp remained tightlipped while Chief Minister Raghubar Das tweeted congratulating Seema Mahto and Babita Devi for their victory and inviting them to join the development journey of Jharkhand. Urban Development Minister CP Singh respected the mandate but cautioned the Opposition ‘against flying too high’.