IN the Palamu- Garhwa region of Jharkhand, the CPIML has waged a protected struggle against the upper caste feudal domination. The main identity of the party in Garhwa district, in Palamu Lok Sabha constituency has been one of waging struggle against any attack on the people. Just the last year, it was CPI (M)’s movements that ensured that the sand mafia responsible for the murder of a family belonging to the Yadav caste, was arrested. The party organized movements against instances of violence and murders by criminal elements, even as the government was busy providing protection to the same criminals. The party’s initiatives and movements also proved to be effective against the deaths from hunger and there were attempts to suppress the movement by filing false complaints against party’s leaders and activists. The Palamu Lok Sabha seat is reserved for the Dalits, despite this the social and political life in this region is dominated by the upper caste feudal forces. Though this seat has fallen in the quota of RJD in the mahagathbandhan, former RJD state president and a long time MLA from Garhwa, Girinath Singh has crossed over to the BJP. Manoj Bhuyian, another RJD leader who was also an MP, has also been expelled by the RJD. The possible candidate from JVM, Prabhat Bhuyian has also joined BJP. The RJD and JVM leaders are scattered and several have joined BJP. It is in this political atmosphere, that CPIML has emerged as the voice of the people against oppression. And it is to strengthen the voice of the people, that the CPIML had decided to contest this seat. The CPIML candidate from Palamu Lok Sabha constituency Com. Sushma Mehta is a 40 year old dynamic woman leader who is immensely popular among the people. In 2011, her popularity ensured her win as a member of the district council and went on to become the President of the council. She hails from the Korata village of Danda block in Garhwa district. She is also the state committee member of the CPI(ML’s Jharkhand unit and the state level leader of AIPWA. In 2012, she was abducted by the Maoists while she was on her way to Bhandriya block to protest against the brutal beating up of an adivasi man by the police. Though the police had been informed, they failed to provide her protection. The Maoists were preparing to attack the police picket that had attacked the man. Com. Sushma Mehta handled the situation with immense calm and maturity and entered dialogue with her captives and was released by them after 5 days. She filed her nomination on 6 April 2019 as the candidate of CPIML for Palamu and Lok Sabha constituency and her nomination was found to be valid.
