Poll music gets feeble as cry for jobs grows louder in Koderma

RANCHI: There was a time when villagers of Jhumri Tilaiya in Koderma district spent their evenings listening to music played on Vividh Bharati. Many among them even called up to request for playing Bollywood songs.
Now the hamlet wears a deserted look after sunset and there is no music to be heard. Most of the villagers, who were once into mica trading, have migrated to neighbouring states, like Bihar, in search of employment."There was a time when every household was earning because of mica trade and after some substitutes came in to the market, the entire mica trade collapsed,"said Arwind Pandey, a local resident.
High rate of unemployment has fuelled migration of labourers from Koderma, shows and ADR report. "Many labourers from Bagodar, Jamua and Koderma migrate to Bihar in search of work whenever there is a drought-like situation and their families lead a wretched life but this issue has not found proper place in the agenda of national parties," said Rajesh Yadav, a villager.
Most of the political parties in Koderma parliamentary constituency - that was Bharatiya Janata Party's stronghold till the time Babulal Marandi of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) wrested it from the saffron party – have skirted the issue, say voters here.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had won the seat four times since 1977. This time, the race for the seat will have a hint of drama with a veteran BJP leader's son in the fray on JVM(P) ticket.
Three-time MP from Koderma Ritlal Prasad Verma - who won the seat five times, thrice on BJP ticket in 1998, 1996 and 1989 and once each on Janta party and Bhartiya Lok Dal tickets in 1980 and 1977, respectively - has been a significant political figure here. His son, Pranav Kumar Verma, is likely to pose a tough challenge to BJP's Ravindra Rai, CPI(ML)'s Rajkumar Yadav and Congress's two-time MP Tilakdhari Singh. Pranav joined Babulal Marandi's team in 2004 when he won the seat on BJP ticket. But Marandi resigned from the party soon after over differences in views and won the Koderma parliamentary seat byelection in 2006 as an independent candidate and later floated JVM(P).
It was in 2009 Lok Sabha election that Marandi once again won the seat but this time on JVM(P) ticket. Pranav remained close to Marandi all this time and has replaced him in the race for the seat. Marandi is contesting from Dumka.
Besides JVM(P) votes, Pranav can expect votes of his father's loyalists.
But the silver lining is too thin and the fight won't be easy for any of the candidates. Koderma, which goes to polls on April 10, has been represented in the Lok Sabha twice by Congress's Tilakdhari Prasad Singh, who rose to popularity in 1984 for the first time. He has again entered the elefray after three decades with support from JMM and RJD.
Koderma LS constituency comprises six assembly segments –Koderma, Barkattha, Dhanwar, Bagodar, Jamua and Gandey. The only party to represent two of the assembly segments is JVM(P), in Dhanwar and Jamua. Koderma assembly seat is represented by RJD whereas Barkattha and Bagodar are represented by BJP and CPI(ML), respectively.
It was in the 2009 Lok Sabha election that Rajkumar Yadav of CPI(ML) lost by a margin of 48,000 votes and has consolidated his forces with help of Bagodar MLA, Vinod Kumar Singh this time to pose challenge to even strong candidates.
Pranav is most likely to face questions on employment and migration in Jamua and other areas.
Recently, a 500 MW power plant of the DVC has been commissioned by Bhel but employment genera ion will take more time as the inauguration of the unit is being delayed.
"Government is getting its share of power but locals are deprived of job opportunity," said Uma Charan Singh, another resident of Koderma.
Many like Uma Charan and Rajesh have little to look forward to but they want to vote, and this time, they say they will go for a new face.Pranav's drift from BJP to JVM(P) has also been interesting.
Undoubtedly BJP is harping on Modi factor as the party candidate Ravindra Ray had failed to win Dhanwar seat during the previous assembly election.
State BJP spokesperson Pradeep Sinha denied that Pranav would benefit from his father's votebank. "Voters were with Ritlal Prasad Verma under BJP banner and the same spirit would now help Rai win the seat," he said.