Defying the exit poll predictions, JMM is going to form the government for the third time in the Jharkhand Assembly elections. Let us tell you that in this time’s Jharkhand elections, there was a direct and fierce competition between the INDIA (India) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliances. In this close contest, the ‘India’ alliance led by Hemant Soren performed brilliantly. In this election, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was at the forefront from the Indian alliance by winning a total of 34 seats. At the same time, Congress has won 16 seats, while Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has succeeded in winning 04 seats and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist Liberation) i.e. CPI (MLL) has succeeded in winning 02 seats. In this way, the Indian Alliance has not only saved its government by securing 56 out of total 81 seats in the state, but has also made a strong comeback. On the other hand, the NDA alliance has once again suffered a huge loss in the Jharkhand elections. Let us tell you that for the NDA alliance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the maximum 21 seats. At the same time, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal United (JDU) and Loktantrik Janata Party (LJP) Ram Vilas have succeeded in winning one seat each. This means that NDA has got a total of 24 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly elections.
Hemant Soren showed political maturity
Earlier in the exit polls, BJP and its led NDA were being shown as clear winners in the state, but the results show that Hemant Soren led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and India Alliance have failed the people of the state with their promises and Succeeded in wooing the claims and won a bumper victory. On the other hand, BJP, despite putting in all its might, could not impress the people of the state including the tribals. Let us tell you that before the elections in Jharkhand, BJP had raised the issue of ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’ very loudly. It is noteworthy that amidst the efforts made by BJP to polarize Hindus and Muslims, Hemant Soren was seen to be completely calm and avoiding provocative statements. This definitely shows the political maturity of Hemant Soren. However, some leaders of his own party and many leaders of other constituent parties of the India Alliance were seen and heard continuously talking about Hindu-Muslim on many occasions. Thus, venom spewing continued in the name of Hindus and Muslims throughout the election period in the state.
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BJP’s bet completely failed
Amidst all this, BJP’s agenda appeared to be a complete failure in Jharkhand, whereas BJP had left no stone unturned in the election campaign in the state. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah held live rallies. Starting from Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah, all the star campaigners were in charge. Even Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who remained in the state for two months, strongly attacked the Soren government for allowing ‘infiltrators’ from Bangladesh. It is noteworthy that BJP raised the issue of ‘Mati, Beti aur Roti’ of Jharkhand in its rallies. In this matter, BJP leaders accused Hemant Soren’s government that ‘soil, daughter and bread’ are in danger in the state. The party even tried to use Champai Soren and Sita Soren as trump cards against JMM, but this move of BJP also did not work. If seen in this way, BJP’s issue of ‘Mati, Beti aur Roti’ and ‘Infiltrator’ in Jharkhand did not work as per its expectation.
The state of indecision is also the reason
In Jharkhand, there is a long standing confusion among some new and old leaders within the Bharatiya Janata Party as to who should be handed over the leadership as the future Chief Minister of the state – to the new, bright and young leader or to the old, established and To the happy leader. It is said that due to continuing discord and discord within the party, no consensus could be reached on which leader should be presented as the Chief Minister before the Jharkhand Assembly elections. This is the reason why a large number of non-tribal people of the state also rejected it. Let us tell you that indecision in any work is considered more fatal than wrong or bad decision. This is absolutely not going to work in politics. Therefore, now at least BJP will have to take it seriously and to perform better in the future, it will have to consider this matter on priority and try to represent the state on behalf of the party, otherwise no matter how many efforts the party makes, Why not do it, the people of the state will always be forced to repeat 2024.
lack of dominant face
It is a bitter truth that there is a dearth of such an influential face within the Bharatiya Janata Party in Jharkhand, who can influence and attract the public. Just as in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken the entire responsibility of making the party victorious and just as in Haryana, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is a responsible face for the party, similarly in Jharkhand too before the elections, A responsible face should have been presented as the future Chief Minister. It is worth noting that by not doing so, the BJP has in a way shot itself in the foot, whereas from the opposition side it was made very clear from the very first day that if the India Alliance won the elections, then the face of the Chief Minister would be on their side. It must be Hemant Soren. However, it is not that there is a dearth of such people within the BJP. If we look closely, there are many leaders within the party who are capable of giving a tough competition to Hemant Soren. Even some leaders have the ability and skills to perform better than them, but due to the party not putting them forward, there was confusion among the voters during the elections as to who will lead the NDA. .
Playing the victim card is also the reason
It is noteworthy that Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with the investigation of money laundering case related to illegal possession of 8.36 acres of land. Making this an issue, BJP made allegations of corruption against the JMM leader during the elections, but this attack backfired on him. In fact, when Hemant Soren was in jail, he inspired his wife Kalpana Soren to play the victim card, after which Kalpana went among the tribal people of the state and told them about the conspiracies being hatched against her by the BJP government. . On the other hand, BJP remained under the illusion that its strategy would be successful in the state assembly elections. On top of that, the release of Hemant Soren from jail on bail just before the important elections became more fatal for the health of the BJP. During the elections, Hemant Soren and his wife played the victim card vigorously and ultimately succeeded in wooing the tribals of the state. This is the reason why this time the voting percentage in the tribal areas of Jharkhand remained at a record level. Let us tell you that out of 26 reserved seats in the state, JMM candidates won on 21 seats, which shows that the tribal voters of the state have badly rejected the BJP in this election.
-Chetnaditya Alok
Senior journalist, litterateur and political analyst, Ranchi, Jharkhand