This Article is From Dec 22, 2009

Key issues in Jharkhand elections

Key issues in Jharkhand elections
New Delhi: The elections in the state were fought mainly on two issues -- corruption and stable government -- with former chief minister Madhu Koda continuing to be in the news for his alleged role in money laundering scam worth more than Rs 2,000 crore. Apart from these two, other issues which will decide the outcome of the poll in the state are -- food grains at subsidised rates, displacement of tribals due to industrial development and tribal development.

Corruption: With former chief minister Madhu Koda in the dock over serious corruption charges, everyone is promising to stamp out sleaze. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies alleged that the Congress and Koda weretwo sides of the same coin, the Congress shot back saying in the nineyears of history, the UPA got chance to rule only for two years.

The BJP, which feels it has a good chance to take power from the staggered elections, says in its manifesto that money earned through corrupt practices will be seized by the government.  It says it will make the state vigilance more active.

The Congress, on the back foot over supporting the Koda government for 23 long months, also talks of rooting out corruption. "We will ensure that legislators and ministers declare their assets every year," its manifesto says.

The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM-P) of former chief minister Babulal Marandi, who has forged an alliance with the Congress, also talks about rooting out corruption. A similar promise has been made by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) of Shibu Soren.

Electricity: Successive governments in Jharkhand, led by Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren, were pulled up by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its reports for failing to supply power, especially to villages. In 2002 the government had promised to electrify 25,000 villages by 2007 in the state's coal belt where 40 per cent of the country's coal reserves are located. Living without electricity for the last 20 years, many villagers across poll-bound Jharkhand feel that elections are just an exercise in making empty promises.

Naxal violence: Maoist violence has claimed thousands of lives in Jharkhand both before and after the state came into existence following the division of Bihar. The common people want the Maoist violence and the cycle of bandhs to end. It is a major issue in this election. The political parties are promising to solve the Maoist problem.

Cheap food grains and price rise: Food grains at subsidized price are a major issue in this tribal dominated state. The manifestoes of major parties read alike promising to subsidize food to families living below the official Below Poverty Line (BPL).

The BJP is trying its best to make the rising prices of essential commodities an election issue. The party has promised rice and wheat at Re.1 a kilo to BPL families and salt at 25 paise a kg. It says a BJP government will give loans to farmers at 2 per cent rate and ensure issue of ration cards in three months.

The Congress vows to supply rice and wheat at Rs.3 per kg to BPL families. The JMM and JVM-P are determined to follow suit.

Displacement due to industrial development: All the major political parties have promised that they will keep in mind the interests of the poor who get displaced when their land is taken away for infrastructure and industrial development.Displacement, which means loss of homes, is a major issue in Jharkhand. Nearly one third of its population has been displaced over the years for setting up steel, mining and other companies.

Tribal development: Development for tribal people while maintaining their tradition was imagined when a separate state of Jharkhand was formed. However, only few people have garnered the benefits of a separate state and the majority still leads a miserable life. The reason for this is the unstable government in the state and corruption.

Congress president while campaigning for the party in Jharkhand had said, "For development, the state needs a stable and corruption-free government. Think seriously whom to vote for. Congress is the only party which does not believe in hollow promises."
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