Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief and chief minister Hemant Soren dominated the intensive campaign of the ruling side which, in effect, represented a truncated INDIA Bloc as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India were forced by circumstances to fight without the INDIA Bloc identity despite being part of it since its formation. For the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dominated the campaign which was aggressive and had divisive overtones. Giving him company were Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Shivraj Singh and several chief ministers.

The ruling coalition obviously has aimed at defending power. In campaigns, the leaders harped on the progress the state has achieved in their very first term and held out how the promised incentives and affirmative actions, such as, enhanced cash payment to women, 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, provision for healthcare and filling up vacancies in government offices will help improve the lot of the common people. BJP leaders harped on administrative laxity on the part of the Hemant Soren-led ministry, as a result of which, they contended, infiltration of Bangladeshis has been changing the state’s demography and adding to the deprivation of the tribals and advasis. Amit Shah, stretching a point, argued that if the incumbent coalition came back to power, they would make provision for reservation for the Muslims. The other point most talked about by the BJP leaders was that corruption had flourished in the Hemant Soren regime.

Inquiries from veteran political observers suggest that cadres of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliates, such as, Lok Jagaran Manch, Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra have canvassed support for BJP wherever they have established their base. The second point they made is that the BJP-led Union government has been utilising the public sector undertakings to channelize a part of their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funds to build roads, set up community centres, improve facilities in primary schools, health centres etc in the areas where the RSS affiliates have been working 24 X 7 to build base for the Sangh Parivar outfits which, in turn, mobilise support for BJP.

After winning the Haryana Assembly election, the Jharkhand Assembly election is being seen by the BJP top brass as an opportunity to prove that it has regained the loss of support it has had to reckon with in the Lok Sabha elections held about six months back. More importantly, a repeat of Haryana in Jharkhand will act as a morale booster for the Sangh Parivar cadres to work hard to wrest from Aam Aadmi Party New Delhi where Assembly elections are due in February next. Defeat in New Delhi in the last two Assembly elections, after Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, has remained a sore point with the BJP leadership. Hence, their all-out attempt to wrest power in Jharkhand where since its formation in late 2000, BJP with the help of small political outfits, managed to be in power most of the time.

The second phase of polling has its own political significance. Out of the 38 seats in contention, the North Chotanagpur region accounts for 25 seats. The Chota Nagpur region is known for its affluence because of the concentration of coal mines and for being home to the giant Bokaro Steel Plant of SAIL. Electors exercise their right in seven of the seats in the first phase polling held on November 13. Therefore, this prosperous area will have election for 18 Assembly seats spread across the districts of Koderma, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Chatra, Giridih, Bokaro and Dhanbad, which is known as the coal city of India. In Chota Nagpur region, no seats are reserved for STs. Of the total of nine SC seats in the state, this region has four SC seats. Thus, 14 general seats will be in contention here.

Asked about the new factors in the Jharkhand elections this time round, CITU state secretary of Jharkhand Biswajit Deb told IPA that sections of people have since started taking notice of 30 year-old Tiger Jairam Mahato, who belongs to the Kudmi Mahato segment of OBC, is an MA in English literature, is pursuing his PhD and who had contested this year’s Lok Sabha elections, garnering 3.5 lakh votes. The name of his party is Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM). Mahato has fielded candidates in 71 seats and is himself contesting from two constituencies – Dumri and Bermo. He wants to fight for the rights of the people, free them from exploitation of all kinds and bring about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor and downtrodden. Welfare of the Kudmi community, many of whom have had to lose land for mining projects, too is high on his priority list. If JLKM manages to get some seats and eats into the votes of the INDIA Bloc and NDA candidates, a clear mandate may prove elusive for those contending for power.

Asked how CPM is in the fray on its own, Deb said those who matter in the INDIA Bloc had not bothered to invite CPM for seat adjustment talks despite their assurance to make it part of the coalition for fighting the election.

Jharkhand state general secretary of AITUC Ashok Yadav informed IPA that CPI had put up candidates for 11 seats and was supporting one candidate who was a late entrant. New people have joined the party’s farmers’ and students’ organisations and the elections “we feel will afford us an opportunity to strengthen our support base”, Yadav explained. At this point in time, the INDIA Bloc seems to have an edge. BJP’s infiltration theory will find few takers. (IPA Service)