Birua only second minister from Ho community in state
JAMSHEDPUR: After missing the ministerial berth in 2019 when some leaders from a major party in the coalition opposed his inclusion in the cabinet, MLA Deepak Birua became only the second minister from the Ho community in the Jharkhand government earlier this month.
He lost four consecutive assembly elections, first as an independent candidate from Chaibasa and Majhgaon in 1990 and again in 1995. In 2000, JMM fielded the Ranchi University graduate from Chaibasa, but Deepak lost to veteran politician Bagun Sumbrui.
In 2005, he again tried his luck as an independent but lost to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Putkar Hembram.
His first victory came in 2009 when he defeated Bagun Sumbrui. He then went on to register a hat trick of poll victories by defeating BJP candidate retired IAS JB Tubid in 2014 and 2019.
“Hemant Soren has always been an inspiration, and I thank CM Champai Soren and my party for trusting me. Not just the Ho community, but people from all sections have made me what I am today. I represent all of them in the government, and my party is equally committed to upgrading tribal communities. I have already talked with CM Champai Soren about education in the Ho language from the primary level. Let’s see what best can be done in such a short time. We will sit in the party and government to decide,” Deepak told HT on Sunday.
Asked if he felt it’s better late than never, the diplomat in Deepak said, “I am at ease in playing during the opening overs as during the slog overs.”
“The entire West Singhbhum district is happy. People sang, danced, distributed sweets, burst firecrackers. And why wouldn’t they? Deepak Birua is a son of the soil from the Ho majority Kolhan. He is a threetime MLA and should have been a minister earlier. He is the most educated, articulate, and sensible among the MLAs in West Singhbhum district, where Ho people constitute 70% of the tribal population and over 50% of the total population,” Devendra Nath Champai, senior Congress leader and former deputy speaker in the Bihar Assembly, told HT on Sunday.
Deepak came home to a tumultuous welcome even on Saturday after taking charge as minister for transport and SC ST Welfare departments in
Ranchi. The celebrations back home had, however, started soon after he took the oath on Friday evening.
The elevation of Deepak, popular among youths and respected by his political friends and opponents alike, may have an impact on the political and social sphere in the entire West Singhbhum, having five assembly constituencies.
“Deepak Birua’s inclusion in the cabinet will benefit the people of Kolhan. We still remember when the Hemant Soren government took office in 2019, Deepak’s exclusion from the cabinet was opposed by people, and the Ho community has made it an issue. I had apprised the CM about the feelings of people then too. Deepak is a sensible and committed party leader,” Sukhram Oraon, West Singhbhum district Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president and Chakradharpur MLA, told HT.
“We now expect Deepak Birua to raise issues dear to our hearts like the inclusion of Ho language in the eighth schedule of the Constitution, education in Ho language and Warang Kshiti scripture, and domicile within the government. No MLAs and MPs have been vocal about these so far,” said the JMM legislator.