09-07-2006, 08:00 PM
<!--emo&:argue--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/argue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='argue.gif' /><!--endemo--> Enos Ekka and the Swing Vote
Varghese K GeorgePosted online: Thursday, September 07, 2006 at 0000 hrs Print Email15 months after his prime-time plea for a conscience vote, Enos Ekka returns to the limelight, deciding the fate of the Jharkhand government
Varghese K George
The splendidly named Enos Ekka was, along with Hari Narayan Rai, on the list of MLAs presented by both the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in March 2005 in support of their competing claims of majority in the first ever election to the Jharkhand assembly. After bargaining hard with both sides, they became part of the five independent MLAs â the G5 â who proved crucial to the formation of the BJP-led NDA government of chief minister Arjun Munda. All five became ministers, with Ekka making an impassioned plea on national TV against the âpressuresâ from the UPA.
Today, Ekka is enjoying his second shot at fame, as the G5 holds the existence of the NDA government in its hands.
Who is Enos Ekka? A first-time MLA from Kolibira in Simdiga district, he gained his clout through government contracts and allying with the Sahus, the powerful business-moneylender community. Sahus cannot take part in direct politics so the tribals usually act as fronts for their business and political activities. Tileshwar Sahu, possessed of a long history-sheet, became Ekkaâs brain and backer and, in 2005, Ekka was put up as candidate of the Jharkhand Party, the pioneers of the movement for a separate state.
When the post-poll negotiations began, in the wake of the hung assembly, Jharkhand Party leader N E Horo pledged his MLAâs support to the UPA. But the BJP were a step ahead: Arjun Munda dispatched a helicopter to pick up Ekka from his village. The chopper seated five; 15 excited villagers, including his mother, clambered on, and it took all of Ekkaâs persuasive skills to get them out so the chopper could take off.
Once in Ranchi, Ekka was treated like a hero, though it took him some time to come to terms with it. He was greeted at the airport by a top-of-the-line SUV â and promptly sat in the luggage section, till he was ushered to the front seat.
Soon, though, he was hitting his stride. Having struck a deal with Sahu, he was firmly in the NDA camp and the government was firmly (for the moment) in place. Next stop for Ekka was New Delhi, where he made an impassioned plea on national TV to be allowed to vote in the assembly according to his conscience, hinting that the UPA was throwing inducements his way. It was then deemed to be a shining moment in Indian politics, morality being put above mammon.
After being ministers for 15 months, however, three of the G-5 feel the UPA should form the government. The BJP, they believe, gave them a raw deal; they wanted more. Sudesh Mehta, who emerged as the leader of the G-5, got the maximum out of the BJP â home, prison and building departments â while Ekka was given rural development and transport, both minus key sections. Ekka fell back on the time-honoured tactic of transfer and postings. Soon, however, Chief Minister Munda got wise to this and began vetoing Ekkaâs proposals. The rift widened between the independents and the BJP and, around a month ago, Ekka and two others paid a âsecretâ visit to Congress leader Oscar Fernandes and Ahmad Patel in Delhi. What followed is for all to see.
Including Ekka, there were 12 âOthersâ (Independents and those belonging to registered but unrecognised parties) in the list of winners in the Jharkhand assembly. Ekka and his like represent purely individual interests devoid of even a façade of a political philosophy. The UP elections could throw up more of them.
varghese.george@expressindia.com
Varghese K GeorgePosted online: Thursday, September 07, 2006 at 0000 hrs Print Email15 months after his prime-time plea for a conscience vote, Enos Ekka returns to the limelight, deciding the fate of the Jharkhand government
Varghese K George
The splendidly named Enos Ekka was, along with Hari Narayan Rai, on the list of MLAs presented by both the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in March 2005 in support of their competing claims of majority in the first ever election to the Jharkhand assembly. After bargaining hard with both sides, they became part of the five independent MLAs â the G5 â who proved crucial to the formation of the BJP-led NDA government of chief minister Arjun Munda. All five became ministers, with Ekka making an impassioned plea on national TV against the âpressuresâ from the UPA.
Today, Ekka is enjoying his second shot at fame, as the G5 holds the existence of the NDA government in its hands.
Who is Enos Ekka? A first-time MLA from Kolibira in Simdiga district, he gained his clout through government contracts and allying with the Sahus, the powerful business-moneylender community. Sahus cannot take part in direct politics so the tribals usually act as fronts for their business and political activities. Tileshwar Sahu, possessed of a long history-sheet, became Ekkaâs brain and backer and, in 2005, Ekka was put up as candidate of the Jharkhand Party, the pioneers of the movement for a separate state.
When the post-poll negotiations began, in the wake of the hung assembly, Jharkhand Party leader N E Horo pledged his MLAâs support to the UPA. But the BJP were a step ahead: Arjun Munda dispatched a helicopter to pick up Ekka from his village. The chopper seated five; 15 excited villagers, including his mother, clambered on, and it took all of Ekkaâs persuasive skills to get them out so the chopper could take off.
Once in Ranchi, Ekka was treated like a hero, though it took him some time to come to terms with it. He was greeted at the airport by a top-of-the-line SUV â and promptly sat in the luggage section, till he was ushered to the front seat.
Soon, though, he was hitting his stride. Having struck a deal with Sahu, he was firmly in the NDA camp and the government was firmly (for the moment) in place. Next stop for Ekka was New Delhi, where he made an impassioned plea on national TV to be allowed to vote in the assembly according to his conscience, hinting that the UPA was throwing inducements his way. It was then deemed to be a shining moment in Indian politics, morality being put above mammon.
After being ministers for 15 months, however, three of the G-5 feel the UPA should form the government. The BJP, they believe, gave them a raw deal; they wanted more. Sudesh Mehta, who emerged as the leader of the G-5, got the maximum out of the BJP â home, prison and building departments â while Ekka was given rural development and transport, both minus key sections. Ekka fell back on the time-honoured tactic of transfer and postings. Soon, however, Chief Minister Munda got wise to this and began vetoing Ekkaâs proposals. The rift widened between the independents and the BJP and, around a month ago, Ekka and two others paid a âsecretâ visit to Congress leader Oscar Fernandes and Ahmad Patel in Delhi. What followed is for all to see.
Including Ekka, there were 12 âOthersâ (Independents and those belonging to registered but unrecognised parties) in the list of winners in the Jharkhand assembly. Ekka and his like represent purely individual interests devoid of even a façade of a political philosophy. The UP elections could throw up more of them.
varghese.george@expressindia.com