Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Oct 17: With the announcement of the Jharkhand assembly elections, a wave of internal discontent is brewing within the AJSU Party, especially as seat-sharing arrangements with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are in the final stages. The party, which is often criticised for its alleged favouritism towards family members of its leader Sudesh Mahto, could be on the verge of a storm of discontent. Several AJSU leaders, who have worked diligently as constituency in-charges over the past five years, risk being sidelined if their preferred seats do not fall under AJSU’s allocation in the alliance. Traditionally, being in-charge positions one as a strong contender for a party ticket in the assembly elections. However, AJSU’s alliance with the BJP has historically limited its contestable seats, usually giving it about ten to eleven constituencies. This arrangement has often seen two or three of these seats allotted to Sudesh Mahto’s family, leaving little opportunity for other leaders. Such favouritism and allegations of nepotism have greatly tarnished the party’s image, leading to disappointment among loyal workers who have invested considerable time and resources in the party.
Sudesh Mahto, once a prominent figure in the Kurmi community, has suffered electoral setbacks, losing twice in his stronghold of Silli. His waning influence raises questions about his ability to lead effectively. Overwhelmed with the demands of his constituency and dependent on the BJP for political survival, Sudesh has struggled to campaign for other AJSU candidates.
Meanwhile, Jairam Mahto, another rising leader from the Kurmi community, is posing a major challenge to Sudesh’s leadership. Jairam has garnered support among disgruntled AJSU leaders and workers, further threatening the party’s stability. As the elections approach, the AJSU will have to deal with the challenge of maintaining unity among its workers, who are increasingly turning to Jairam as a viable alternative.
Despite these issues, AJSU leaders like East Singhbhum district president Kanhaiya Singh and spokesperson Appu Tiwari maintain that there is no resentment regarding ticket distribution. “AJSU workers are united in their commitment to ensure the victory of all NDA alliance candidates,” Kanhaiya asserted. “The claims of discontent are merely baseless rumours spread by the opposition.”
