Family, villagers of Madhu Koda celebrate

Jamshedpur, Sep 16 (UNI) Patahatu, a non-descript village in West Singhbhum and one of the backward districts in Jharkhand, has suddenly shot in to limelight and become the much sought-after destination for the media.

Thanks to Chief Minister designate of Jharkhand, Madhu Koda, who hails from this remote village.

Soon after the dramatic fall of 18-month old Arjun Munda government in the state and independent MLA from Jagannathpur reserved constituency Mr Koda's projection as the chief minister, media persons started pouring in Patahatu.

The villagers, including the father of Mr Koda, Rasika Koda, is celebrating the rise of their own man at the helm of the state's affair by dancing and singing amid the sound of Dholaks and distributing Laddus. The celebration would possibly last till September 18, the day when Mr Koda is slated to take oath as the fifth Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

However, the ancestral village of the most powerful man of the state is reeling under abject poverty, like most of the villages in the district and lack of development with no proper sanitation, drinking water and electricity. There is only one primary school in the village that speaks volumes of the low standard of education.

The senior Koda, who spends most of his time in the paddy field, is very much down to earth and got the news of his son's elevation to the top post from the news bulletin of the transistor, which he always keeps with him.

Talking to a group of mediapersons Rasika Koda said he was happy as his son was tipped to be the chief minister but he advised his son to remember his humble background and asked him to work for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. He should also consider the whole state as his own constituency, the proud father opined.

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