PATNA: Two of Jharkhand’s top tribal leaders – former chief ministers Sibu Soren of JMM and Babulal Marandi of JVM(P) – have come together for the first time, putting behind their political rivalries and thereby sending uneasy signals for the BJP-led government in the predominantly tribal state.
The coming together of Soren, Jharkhand’s tallest tribal leader and a founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Marandi, the 16-year-old state’s first chief minister when he was with BJP, was facilitated by the urgency to protect two British-era laws that prevent alienation of the tribal people from their land. The unprecedented show of unity seen on Friday indicates no immediate plans for the two rivals to move towards a political alliance, but it could derail a major policy initiative of the Raghubar Das-led BJP government in the state.
The Jharkhand government is intent to amend the two laws – Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act – in order to allow the diversion of large tracts of agricultural and residential lands in possession of the tribal people for commercial purposes. All tribal parties and organizations have voiced their dissent to the move, which was recently disapproved of by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
Even the ruling BJP-led alliance’s leaders have opposed the decision of the government, which is the first regime in Jharkhand led by a non-tribal. Vikas Munda, an MLA of the ruling ally All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), recently resigned from the state’s Tribal Advisory Council in protest against the proposed changes in the two land laws. Even tribal leaders in BJP are unhappy about the changes that many say would lead to Jharkhand’s tribals becoming homeless.
With the government planning to get the bill seeking amendments to the two laws passed in the Assembly’s upcoming winter session starting on November 17, the coming together of Soren and Marandi has strengthened unity among the Opposition parties.
CM Raghubar Das paid Soren a visit on Saturday ostensibly to invite him to the government’s celebration of Jharkhand’s foundation day on November 15. Sources said the two leaders had a brief chat on the two laws, the government’s plans and those by the Opposition parties to begin a series of agitations.