Is Jamshedpur bracing for a Banna Gupta vs Abhay Singh political duel in next Assembly elections?

Arrest may just have given wind to Abhay Singh’s political ambitions for Jamshedpur West seat.

When BJP leader Abhay Singh was arrested and brought to MGM Hospital for medical check-up, his supporters raised slogans against Banna Gupta, the Congress MLA from Jamshedpur West Assembly segment and also the state Health Minister.

Yes, they raised slogans against Banna Gupta, who, ostensibly, may not have anything to do with his arrest.

They did this, because they wanted to help him in political positioning against Banna Gupta.

The city police may have acted mechanically as per their own set procedural rule book in arresting Abhay Singh.

However, the arrest may prove to be a big ‘political boost’ for Abhay Singh, who has been nursing big political ambitions for some time now.

And it may have just given him the one missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle that Abhay Singh may have been planning carefully for quite some time.

That of emerging as the sole Hindu interest champion in the political firmament of Jamshedpur.

The arrest on serious charges in the wake of Kadma Shashtri Nagar communal violence may just have given wind to his political ambition.

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It may very well be a Banna Gupta vs Abhay Singh on Jamshedpur West Assembly seat during the next Assembly elections in Jharkhand.

Abhay Singh’s supporters know this.

And therefore they have been pitching him carefully against Banna Gupta.

None else, but Banna Gupta.

Abhay Singh will not eat into Banna Gupta’s support base because that is clearly defined.

However, within BJP, he may emerge as the most suitable person to challenge Banna Gupta.

And if this happens, and if Abhay Singh emerges as the strongest BJP option for Jamshedpur West assembly seat, and if he manages to secure a ticket for himself, Banna Gupta may be facing a doughty challenger to his re-election ambitions.

Abhay Singh’s arrest has sparked controversy and thrown up a rare political opportunity for his supporters and well-wishers too.

Singh’s arrest has been viewed by many as an opportunity to present him as the voice of Hindus in the entire Kolhan area, including Jamshedpur.

Singh’s recent activities and statements have added to this perception.

Singh’s credibility had taken a beating following his involvement in a controversy during the Ram Navami procession.

Singh had mobilized the Ram Navami Akharas and demanded that all conditions be met and only then the processions would be taken out.

However, after a closed-door meeting with the administration, Singh agreed to take out the Shobha Yatra, leading to criticism from Akhara committees and leaders.

Singh was waiting for an opportunity to regain his credibility.

He wanted to test the waters and gauge the support for him, when he was removed as the post of patron by the Central Ram Navami Akhari Committee.

He also seized on an alleged statement by State Health Minister and Congress MLA from Jamshedpur West, Banna Gupta, in which Singh’s family was described as ‘dangai (rioters)’. Singh’s grandfather and father were recognized as frontline voices of Hindus, and Singh saw this as an opportunity to project himself as a Hindu leader.

Singh targeted Gupta in a media appearance last week and announced that he proudly says his forefathers played their role to save Hindus in Jamshedpur, and if someone calls his family ‘a rioter’ for having ‘saved Hindus’, he is proud of it.

Singh also attacked the administration fiercely.

Within a week of Singh’s statement, and unrelatedly, there was a communal disturbance in Kadma Shastri Nagar, leading to Singh’s arrest.

Singh’s supporters have started cashing in on his arrest as a political opportunity to project him as an outspoken and strong Hindu leader, filling a void in Jamshedpur.

The strategy is to project Singh as a leader who talks about issues related to Hindu interests or problems of Hindus, positioning him against Jamshedpur West MLA Banna Gupta.

Singh’s supporters believe that Singh has a strong chance of winning the 2024 election in Jamshedpur West, if fielded by BJP leadership as a candidate that is.

Jamshedpur West seat has a history of sharp vote polarization due to its demography.

The political fraternity has been taking political advantage of this situation.

Although, earlier, Abhay Singh was grooming himself as a contender to Raghubar Das on Jamshedpur East seat, Singh’s electoral equation in Jamshedpur East has never been favorable, leaving little scope for a change in the situation going forward.

Now, the victory of Saryu Roy in the Jamshedpur East seat has only complicated the situation for him.

However, in the Jamshedpur West seat, things may look easier for him.

The issue of Singh’s arrest is likely to add to the polarization of politics in the region and the emergence of leaders who are positioning themselves as the voice of a particular community.

Banna Gupta has his positioning as an anti-BJP leader championing the cause of minorities and Congress support base.

This trend is likely to continue in the run-up to the 2024 elections, leading to further polarization and war of words..

According to the city police Abhay Singh has been arrested because he had instigated the people.

Only the future will decide whether the charges against Abhay Singh stand scrutiny in the court of law or not, and whether he is convicted or not.

The law will take its own course in this matter.

But there is a political side to the whole issue as well.

His supporters and well-wishers are seeing the arrest of Abhay Singh as an opportunity in a disaster.

There is a move to project him as the sole voice of Hindus in the entire Kolhan region including Jamshedpur.

And if this happens, Abhay Singh may pose a serious political challenge to the ambitions of Congress MLA from Jamshedpur West, Banna Gupta.