Dashrath Gagrai invited as chief guest in competition named after Arjun Munda and wifeÂ
Jamshedpur, Jan 4: JMM MLA from Kharsawan Dashrath Gagrai has worked hard in the last 23 years to create a base in a constituency which was once known as bastion of former chief minister and current union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda.
What has attracted attention is the invitation to Kharsawan MLA Dashrath Gagrai as a chief guest in a football competition held in the name of Arjun Munda and his spouse Meera Munda at Bandhdih village under Gamharia block. The competition is being organised by Nav Yuvak Mahato Kalyan Samity since 1997 in the name of Arjun Munda and his wife Meera Munda.
Since inception either Arjun Munda or his wife Meera Munda or some senior BJP leaders used to be the chief guest for the competition.
However, in 2020 no BJP leaders were invited as chief guest and instead Dashrath Gagrai donned the chief guest mantle.
Though, former BJP district president Ramnath Mahato was also invited to the dais but it was announced that he was invited as he hailed from Mahato community. A reason attributed for this change is that several Mahato community leaders who once to swear in the name of Arjun Munda since 1995 are feeling disillusioned in the BJP.
It is being told that Arjun Munda after becoming MLA for the first time in 1995 on JMM ticket he had sought support from Bandhdih village and in 1996 had supported in organising the football competition which was held in his and his wife name and also promised to build a football stadium. The construction of the stadium began but it is yet to be completed with only a portion of the pavilion completed which has caused resentment amongst the masses.
Seven panchayats of Gamharia which falls under Kharsawan vidhan sabha were used to be considered as bastion of BJP but with JMM gaining foothold in such panchayats it would pose serious problem for BJP in coming elections.
Between 1995 and 2014 BJP used to have major leads in all the seven panchayat and even in 2014 when Arjun Munda lost the vidhan sabha polls still he used to have lead from Bandhdih panchayat.
Even in 2019 parliamentary polls, Arjun Munda got the biggest lead from Bandhdih panchayat under Khunti Parliamentary seat.
According to records, in the entire Kharsawan vidhan sabha constituency comprising 283 polling booths in Bandhdih polling booth a total of 593 votes were cast out of which 524 were cast in favaour of BJP candidate but in a span of six months during vidhan sabha polls, JMM took lead in these polling booths.