E-Paper
Enter the brokers
Shibu Soren is back and wants to be CM. The game has just begun in Jharkhand.
In a remarkable reversal of fortunes, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren has emerged as the kingmaker in the Jharkhand assembly elections. Earlier this year, Mr Soren had all but been written off as a political force after he lost the Tamar by-election and was dogged by controversy. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself intervened to keep Mr Soren out of his Cabinet on account of the various taints surrounding him. He is the first Union minister to be convicted of murder and his track record of holding any party that he has lent support to has been extremely dodgy. Though the Congress-led alliance is the largest, it is likely that the Jharkhand assembly will see a hung House. Even before the customary horse-trading has begun, the BJP-led NDA seems to have lost interest after finding its earlier margin dented. This does not bode well for the party that has seen its fortunes plummet in recent times with a shrinking vote base and unseemly infighting. Whichever formation comes to power, the state seems in for another round of instability.
The very formation of Jharkhand in 2000 was to improve and streamline governance. But the resource-rich state has been caught in political scandals and corruption of monumental proportions in contrast to Bihar where a progressive chief minister has steadied the course. Since its formation, the state’s track record on every front has been dismal and the people consistently shortchanged by rapacious carpetbaggers and politicians. The JMM seems to be first off the block with demands that Mr Soren be made CM of any formation his party supports. Of course, others will throw their hats in the ring as well. It seems unlikely at present that either the Congress or any of the other political parties will be comfortable with the idea of a government led by Mr Soren. But, as in the past, much will depend on who comes up with the best offer.
The additional factor is the Rashtriya Janata Dal that has put up an impressive showing. It is also clear that corruption is not a major issue given that scam-tainted former Chief Minister Madhu Koda’s wife has won quite handsomely. The political instability that is bound to follow this verdict is likely to scare off genuine investors in the state’s development. This means that once again the politicians will broker the fortunes of those who will come calling for business. And unfortunately, that means the people get left out of the loop once again.
