A poll quest for Bihar's 'forgotten people'

As the JMM weighs its options ahead of the Assembly polls, including contesting on its own, others chalk out plans to attract the elusive tribal voter, writes Aditi Phadnis

- Aditi Phadnis

As Assembly elections draw close, the race to woo the tribal communities of Bihar has begun. At around 25,00,000, tribals constitute less than 3 per cent of the state's population and wield limited influence in pockets of 15 districts, especially West Champaran, Katihar, Kishanganj, Araria, and Purnea.

The roots of tribal political consolidation, though, could be traced to the movement led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) for the creation of Jharkhand, then a part of undivided Bihar.

Even though it is leading the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc in Jharkhand, the JMM has indicated that it may contest the Bihar polls on its own. On their part, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress convened on four occasions to chalk out a strategy for Bihar polls, but kept the JMM out of these parleys.

"When national leaders sit down to discuss poll plans, JMM might attend. You can't ignore leaders of the stature of Hemant Soren and Kalpana Soren," said Manoj Pandey, spokesperson, JMM. But internally, according to sources, party leaders feel their claims for Bihar are not being taken seriously. It was the JMM that led the alliance with Congress to victory in Jharkhand, winning 56 of the 81 seats in Assembly polls last November. It could manage this despite the incarceration of its leader and chief minister Hemant Soren just months ahead of the elections and defection of senior leaders.

Congress, however, has hinted at making efforts to take along the JMM in Bihar.

"This is our responsibility as part of the alliance, and we have already taken steps in this regard," K Raju, Jharkhand Congress in-charge told reporters in Giridih last week.