The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign), a collaborative effort of human rights organisations and social workers in Jharkhand, has emphasised the need for a united front between the INDIA alliance and civil groups against the BJP at the grassroots level during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

During a meeting with Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren on Tuesday evening, members of the campaign stressed the importance of an early declaration of seat sharing and candidate names among the parties within the INDIA bloc.

“We stressed that BJP and RSS are the biggest threats to Jharkhand, country, democracy, constitution and the working class. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, democracy-loving people, organizations and INDIA parties need to come together and wage a common grassroots struggle on public issues at the ground level in each of the 14 parliamentary seats,” stated a communique issued by the campaign members.

“A demand was also made to decide seat wise alliance as soon as possible and start a joint campaign. This demand has also been made to other political parties of the INDIA bloc. It is also important that there should be local candidates fighting for local social perspective and people’s rights,” the communique added.

The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan’s campaign, aimed at preserving democracy and constitutional values during the 2024 general elections, aims to reach all 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state through mass contact programmes, hybrid in nature, to inform the masses about the alleged anti-tribal and anti-poor policies of the
Modi government.

“To secure victory in the Lok Sabha elections, it is imperative for the state government to address specific issues in line with public expectations,” suggested the delegation to the chief minister, who also serves as the vice-president of the JMM.

Some of the issues highlighted by the delegation included the cancellation of the land bank created by the previous BJP-led government, which appropriated 22 lakh hectares of community land.

Furthermore, the delegation recommended the swift distribution of community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act and the full implementation of tribal rights to self-governance in Fifth Schedule areas in accordance with PESA.

“We urge the formation of a high-level judicial inquiry to address the cases of tribals and indigenous people trapped in false cases and languishing in jail. The government should streamline the process of obtaining caste certificates,” the delegation urged.

The delegation also called upon the state government to take decisive action against hate speech and communal rhetoric disguised as public meetings and religious functions.

Notably, the JMM and the Congress leaders have informed the media that seat-sharing arrangements in Jharkhand will be announced soon after the Lok Sabha notification is issued.