Problems galore

Jamshedpur, Feb. 7: Charges are flying thick and fast against chief minister Arjun Munda in the run-up to the Kharsawan bypoll.

The fresh controversy concerns his caste with rival CPI(ML) candidate Bahadur Oraon lodging a petition with the returning officer of Seraikela, seeking a probe into the chief minister’s scheduled tribe status. Oraon has also sent copies of the petition to Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi.

Returning officer C.K. Singh confirmed to have received the complaint from the CPI(ML) candidate. “Oraon has alleged that Munda’s caste certificate on the basis of which he is contesting the Kharsawan by-election — a reserved constituency for ST candidates — is not genuine. He has demanded an inquiry,” he said.

Singh, who is also the sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Seraikela, however, added the controversy was an old one. “This is an old complaint that had already been probed in the past. There is no credibility behind such accusations,” the SDO told The Telegraph.

He, however, failed to say whether the earlier inquiry had been conducted by the Chief Election Commission or by the local administration, but added that the administration would probe the matter afresh.

On his part, Oraon stressed that his complaint was not just an allegation and he had all necessary documents to substantiate his charges. He said he had attached copies of the documents with the complaint.

“Munda is a Tamaria, which was considered a backward category till 2002. After he became the chief minister the same year, he got Tamaria enlisted in the ST category. He did not face much difficulty as the BJP-led NDA government was at the helm of affairs at the Centre then,” Oraon said.

“Constitutionally, Munda may belong to ST now. But before 2002, Munda had contested two Assembly elections successfully from Kharsawan. This is tantamount to cheating the democratic system. Such a person should be debarred from contesting elections,” Oraon, who is from Khuntpani block, said.

Munda is contesting the by-election on February 10. In all, seven candidates, including JVM’s Dashrath, alias Krishna, Gagrai and Oraon, are in the fray.

Meanwhile, the central leadership of Ho Samaj Mahasabha met Munda at the BJP’s camp office at Kharsawan this morning. Led by the Mahasabha’s central president Harish Chandra Sirca, the leaders had a long discussion with the chief minister.

Munda assured them that there would be no tampering with the CNT Act and that he would see to it that Ho language was introduced at the primary education level.