Ranchi, July 9: Pushed into a tight corner in the changed political scenario, Ajsu Party has stepped up preparations to consolidate its support base by pledging allegiance to its core ideology of standing by statehood activists.

Today, party chief Sudesh Mahto unveiled the statue of late Ramesh Singh Munda at Bundu and vowed to fulfil the dreams of Birsa Munda, who, he said, was the former minister's inspiration.

Later, Mahto presided over another function with party leaders of various panchayats in Lohardaga district and discussed preparations for the party's "nyaya yatra" campaign beginning July 15.

In his addresses, Mahto stressed Ajsu Party had gained prominence through sustained struggles and that it was ready to go to any extent to fulfil the aspirations of common people.

He alleged that vested interests were out to defame Jharkhand movement activists and Ajsu would launch a mass campaign to counter them.

"Birsa Munda dreamt of administering justice to every commoner in the entire Jharkhand region. His ardent follower, Ramesh Singh Munda, too, laid down his life fighting against left wing extremism. He also dreamt of making Jharkhand a prosperous state. It is our responsibility to fulfil their dreams," he said at Bundu after unveiling the statue.

Ramesh Singh won the Tamar Assembly seat in 1995, 2000 and 2005 and went on to become a minister in governments led by Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda. He was a JDU member.

He was gunned down by Maoists on the premises of a high school at Bundu on July 9, 2008. His son, Vikas Singh Munda, is now an Ajsu MLA from Tamar.

"Today, we also adopted a child from that school. We will be fighting extremism tooth and nail and leaving no stone unturned for the development of the area," said Vikas Singh.

After Kamal Kishore Bhagat's conviction in a criminal case on June 22, resulting in the Ajsu's Lohardaga MLA losing his Assembly membership, the party announced its plan to approach the "people's court" for justice.

In July 1993, Bhagat had reportedly demanded financial assistance from a leading neurologist in Ranchi for holding a party rally in favour of a separate Jharkhand state.

A verbal altercation occurred. It soon turned violent. While Bhagat and his close aide, Alstair Bodra, were seriously injured, one Sudarshan Bhagat was killed.

After 22 years, Bhagat and Bodra were convicted by a Ranchi court in the case. Bhagat lost his Assembly membership as a consequence. He has been granted provisional bail by Jharkhand High Court.

Both Bhagat and Bodra were present at the meetings at Bundu and Lohardaga.

"We have faith in the judiciary. But, in a democracy people's court is the ultimate authority. Those who opposed a separate Jharkhand state are now out to defame us. We cannot remain mute spectators," said Ajsu spokesman Deo Sharan Bhagat.