Deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi (extreme right) addresses the first convention of Jharkhand Jan Morcha at Town Hall in Ranchi on Monday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, June 9: After some of his political aides recently deserted him, deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi today sought a new political alliance with the leaders of the separate statehood movement — Suraj Mandal and Suraj Singh Besra.

“The political situation of the state is pathetic. Politics here has become direction-less. We, who dreamt for Jharkhand and fought in the statehood movement, therefore need to come together for a noble cause,” said Stephen while addressing a gathering of Jharkhand Jan Morcha (JJM), the newly constituted party formally headed by his brother M. Marandi.

Thousands of party workers, mainly from Santhal Pargana region, had come to the state capital to take part in the party’s general convention today. Mandal, the chief of Jharkhand Vikas Dal, and Besra, the general secretary of Jharkhand People’s Party, were “specially invited” to take part in the meet.

Though neither of the three leaders said that they would join hands before the coming Lok Sabha elections, they left little doubt in the mind of the party workers that the convention was a preparatory exercise for the election alliance.

Stephen, who formed the JJM after he chose to part ways with former chief minister Babulal Marandi, had Prabhakar Tirkey to support him till recently. But with Tirkey now having crossed over to Anosh Ekka’s Jharkhand Party, Stephen had to re-assess his political ground.

Meanwhile, both Mandal and Besra, who also need fresh political ground, appealed to people to support the new political experiment.

“People should no longer pin their hopes on JMM as Shibu Soren has stopped thinking for the state,” said Mandal, urging the party workers to woo voters for the new alliance.

Lauding the new efforts of Stephen to bring together small political parties bearing the name of Jharkhand, Mandal said the new venture is the dawn of a new hope in Jharkhand.

Mandal, recalling the good old days when he fought the separate statehood movement with Stephen, Besra, Shailendra Mahto and Soren among several others, said neither the Congress nor the BJP realises the aspirations of the people of Jharkhand.

Echoing the line of Mandal, Besra said the dreams of the people of Jharkhand is far from coming true.

Stephen also urged the state government to come out with rehabilitation and resettlement policy, youth policy, water policy, environment policy and agriculture policy.

The convention also charted out a common programme for the smaller political parties, so that they could not only work together but also ensure their political existence.

Stephen, who tried to exhibit confidence during the convention though he finds himself alone now, said the three parties had come together for a common cause — giving a direction to politics in Jharkhand.