Former Indian Police Services (IPS) officer and Member of Parliament Dr Ajoy Kumar has clearly injected new life into Congress. Here is how:
30 years ago, when Jharkhand was still not a separate state, industrial town Jamshedpur was still reeling under the terror of mafias. Industry was suffering and businessmen were troubled. That was when Tata steel asked the then Bihar government to bring in a policeman who could cure the mafia problem. Lalu then sent Patna's SP city to Jamshedpur.
Now let’s move to 2017, when Congress in Jharkhand was in a fix. This former IPS officer then came to Rahul Gandhi’s mind. On Rahul’s suggestion, the charge of Jharkhand Congress was handed to Ajoy Kumar and the result of that decision is evident now. Congress has made a strong return in Jharkhand. In a shocking defeat for the BJP, Congress has won the bypoll for Vidhan Sabha’s Kolebira seat. This victory is consequential because even the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMS) was against it.
The Rise of Ajoy Kumar and of Congress in Jharkhand
After forming the government in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh; Congress seems to be creating another dent in BJP's wall. Congress' win of the Kolebira Vidhan Sabha seat is indicative of that. This win is also important because Jharkhand's main opposition party JMS had supported Jharkhand Party's candidate Menon Ekka. In spite of that BJP lost by 10,000 seats.
Since the creation of Jharkhand, Congress has been trying to become the main opposition party in the state. But the strong bounce back for Congress happened in the last one year.
Prior to 2014 Congress would only come across as a support system for local parties.
Ajoy Kumar Had Started His Political Innings Through JVM
Ajoy Kumar had started his political career in 2010 through Babulal Marandi's party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM). In 2011, he won the bypoll for the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat for JVM by more than one lakh fifty thousand votes.
He joined the Congress in 2014. Then he was made the party spokesperson. Here, his tactical way of communicating things further consolidated his position In 2017, Kumar was made the party president.
Getting Rid of Criminals in Tatanagar
Lalu Yadav had made Patna City SP Ajoy Kumar the Jamshedpur SP on the request of JJ Irani, managing director (MD) of Tata Steel.
Dr Ajoy Kumar’s legacy as an IPS officer is often talked about.
Ajoy Kumar was the SP of Jamshedpur till 1996. He was successful in creating a fear of law and of the police force in the criminals of city and thereby, deemed a star. Following his retirement as an IPS officer, he served at Tata Motors for a while and then he entered politics.
The extent to which he was loved in Jamshedpur is evident from the fact that he won the Lok Sabha seat from Jamshedpur by over one lakh fifty thousand votes.
Dr Ajoy Kumar had recieved his MBBS degree from Puducherry's Jawahar Lal Institute in 1985. He was selected for the Indian Police Services in 1986. Kumar originally hails from Karnataka.
(Translation by Mekhala Saran)
(This piece was originally published in Quint Hindi)
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