Enos eyes revival of Jharkhand Party ahead of next year’s polls

Ranchi: Jharkhand Party, the oldest party in the state which was founded by the legendary late Jaipal Singh Munda, is in a revival mode ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The party was the main opposition against Congress in undivided Bihar for 15 years in the then Bihar assembly. Its fortunes, however, dwindled after the formation of Jharkhand following which the leaders moved to other groups or retired.Against all odds, the party still managed to be part of the government in Jharkhand during Madhu Koda’s chief ministership when “tainted” Enos Ekka was a cabinet minister. Since then, the party largely became synonymous with Ekka, who represented the Kolebira seat till a few years back before he lost his assembly membership after his conviction in a para teacher murder case and in scores of disproportionate assets cases which are being probed by different central agencies.Ekka is currently out of bail and is eyeing to revive the party before the next elections. On Sunday, Jharkhand Party wrapped up its two-day central committee meeting after which Ekka was unanimously elected as party president again while former advocate general Ajit Kumar was named as the working president. Several other office bearers of the party were also named along with its district units.Talking to media persons, Ekka said, “Jharkhand Party will emerge as the sole alternative of BJP-led and JMM-led alliances as both have failed the state in the last 23 years. This is the oldest party since undivided Bihar which worked for our tribal brothers and sisters and scores of underprivileged people. It’s time to again become their voices.”On their plans, he said that they have resolved to contest all 81 assembly seats in next year’s assembly polls in Jharkhand. “We will fight with full might here next year. Also, we plan to contest Lok Sabha polls, modalities for which will soon be announced,” he said, accusing the JMM of duping people in the name of state domicile based on 1932 khatiya (land records). “Jharkhand Party has long been demanding the 1932 khatiyan to define locals and we will fight for it,” he said.While the fate of the party is still to be seen, political observers believed that it is pitching itself as a platform to lure leaders, mostly dissidents, from other key parties to contest on its ticket. “Although it is the oldest party, it has lost its ground over the years because it doesn’t have any credible faces. What Jharkhand Party might now do is induct key candidates ousted from other parties for fighting elections to stay relevant. Even if manages to win one seat, it will be enough to serve the purpose,” an observer said.