AJSU vision document: Sudesh hijacks Modi's "smart plan"
On the other hand, AJSU which currently has six MLAs in the 82-member State Assembly is also hopeful to augment its strength in the coming electi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of building smart cities may not have found reverberations in Jharkhand's saffron unit, but former deputy Chief Minister and Ajsu Party chief Sudesh Kumar Mahto seems to have grabbed it with both hands, and already unveiled a "vision document" on how he intends to build a "smart Jharkhand."
AJSU has always been a trusted BJP ally; having played crucial role in formation of four BJP led government in Jharkhand. However, in the run up to the assembly polls scheduled later this year; BJP Jharkhand unit appear averse to a tie up with AJSU, hoping to once again ride piggyback on Narendra Modi and singlehandedly win the State.
On the other hand, AJSU which currently has six MLAs in the 82-member State Assembly is also hopeful to augment its strength in the coming election.
Sudesh Mahto's vision document, released early this month, promises to deliver Information Technology equipped police stations, a special highway patrol force, CCTV cameras for 24x7 vigil at public places including railway stations, bus stands, shopping complexes, besides setting up sports colleges in every district, industry-linked skill development, tapped drinking water for all homes and state-of-the-art public transport facility for villagers.
The idea is clearly to convey to the electorates that AJSU-- and not Jharkhand BJP unit-- has the skills and commitment to translate Modi's ideas into reality in Jharkhand. The Vision document is also Sudesh Mahto's idea of effectively kicking off the election campaign and also bag the first-mover advantage. The jarring irony is that the faction ridden team saffron in Jharkhand is not even accusing AJSU of hijacking Modi's dreams.
After the Lok Sabha election results in Jharkhand, which showed an increasing number of Jharkhand electorates ready to buy the Modi dream, helping BJP win 12 of the 14 seats from the State, AJSU is clearly trying position itself a notch above BJP as the perfect executioners for the idea of a smart Jharkhand.
"Our vision document is our undertaking to ensure a good life to Jharkhand's 3.30 crore people," Sudesh Mahto told India Today, spelling out his poll plank for the ensuing Assembly elections. Jharkhand is still deprived of basic amenities even 14 years after the state's formation.
Through the vision document, titled Shashakt Jharkhand, Samridhha Jharkhand (Empowered Jharkhand, prosperous Jharkhand), Sudesh Mahto has promised good governance, improved law and order, electricity for all in addition to special focus on education. The Naxal infested State starves for security of common people. Besides promises of setting up a world class Sports University, promoting tourism and providing power to all villages are surely attractive, if not unachievable.
Sudesh also has a credible track record as a public representative. As Road Construction minister, Mahto got his constituency Silli roads while he brought check dams as minister for water resources. The Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSET) in Silli won the award for being the second-best RUDSET in the country in 2012-13. As sports minister, he got Silli an artificial turf stadium.
As a politician, Sudesh Mahto thrives on votes of the numerically significant Kurmi community, his castemen besides youth and women, who turn up in massive presence in his rallies. Out of power in Jharkhand, the Ajsu party has also staked claim for Jharkhand's special status. Now, he seems to have stolen a march on BJP by grabbing Modi's ideas better than saffron cousins in Jharkhand.