Pakur stage set for a triangular contest

Pakur: Situated at the crossroads of Bangladesh and West Bengal, Pakur assembly segment is set to witness a triangular contest. Dominated by Muslims, Congress has traditionally held Pakur from 1985-1990. While BJP wrested it from Congress in 1990, it ultimately fell into the kitty of arguably the most powerful political party in Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in 2009.
Though the major tussle is between JMM, Congress and BJP, 15 candidates, including ones from Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), Bahujan Samaj Party, CPM, Trinamool Congress, All India Forward Block, Indian Union Muslim League, Samta Party and several independents are in the fray.
Congress is believed to enjoy a comfortable position here. Its candidate Alamgir Alam has served as a speaker and is considered the tallest Congress leader in Santhal Pargana. He won the seat in 2000 and 2005. “Pakur is like my extended family. I have worked for the people here even though I was not an MLA,” Alam said. A scene in a meeting at one of the Congress’ office suggested the party is pumping enough funds to win this seat. But the office completely lacked coordination. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will be campaigning for Alam in Pakur on Wednesday.
In 2009, JMM had sprung a surprise when Akil Akhtar won the seat. The party has again fielded Akhtar, a popular Muslim face, who is considered to be a formidable force here due to his wealth. He is believed to be close to chief minister Hemant Soren, who has used all his resources into winning Santhal Pargana, where JMM currently has 12 out of 18 assembly segments. Hemant and Shibu Soren have planned a series of rallies in Pakur.
JMM campaign vehicles are trickling into Pakur with elections in all other parts of the state nearly over. “We are not only winning Pakur. All sitting seats in Santhal Pargana will remain with JMM. We will increase our footprint,” said Akhtar.
Akhtar is being backed by Hemant and the state’s tallest tribal leader Shibu Soren. In Pakur, JMM will have to tame the strong Narendra Modi wave, which BJP claims has taken the state in its grip. Modi addressed a well-attended rally at Barharwa fuelling concerns in opposition parties.
In a strategic move, BJP has fielded a Brahmin candidate, Ranjit Tiwari backed by former party MLA Beni Prasad Gupta. Pakur has more than 60% Muslims, 20% backward and 10% forward caste people, said a BJP leader. JMM, Congress, TMC and JVM-P have fielded Muslims.
When minority votes spread, BJP will stand to gain. Sabir Sheikh, a local BJP leader, said: “In Chanchaki and other Muslim areas, you will see more flags of BJP than of Congress. Here Muslims support BJP in large numbers.” BJP won this seat in 1990 and again in 2000.
Interestingly, BJP is using the face of Shahnawaz Hussain apart from Modi to woo the minority. “The country has reposed faith in Modi. It’s now the turn of Jharkhand and Pakur,” said Tiwari.