Analysis | No CM face, focus only on infiltration cost BJP dear in Jharkhand

As the poll results started trickling in, it seemed that the BJP had pocketed Jharkhand, along with Maharashtra, to make a clean sweep in the latest round of assembly elections. But as the day progressed, JMM left the BJP way behind and retained power in the state with its ally Congress. 

Despite throwing all its weight to snatch Jharkhand, the poll debacle has left the BJP rank and file wondering what had gone wrong.

Top BJP leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma canvassed aggressively, but the NDA did not project any CM candidate, as its campaigns mainly focused on “infiltration from Bangladesh” and “corruption” of the Hemant Soren regime.

About 200 rallies were addressed by BJP leaders, including about two dozen by Shah and PM Modi, who also held mega road shows, including one in Jharkhand’s capital, Ranchi, drawing huge crowds.

The NDA was barely led in 24 of the 81 seats it contested. The BJP contested 68 seats while its ally, AJSU Party, which contested 10 seats, was almost wiped out.

Contradicting exit polls, Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is heading towards a major victory by winning or establishing a lead in 34 of the 43 seats it contested.

A source in the state BJP claimed that failing to project a tribal CM’s face in the polls cost it dearly.

Another leader claimed the entire show was run by “two leaders from outside” and the state BJP gave tickets to leaders who came from other parties, ignoring its own.

BJP’s sitting legislator Kedar Hazra along with former minister Louis Marandi joined JMM accusing dejection by party leaders just ahead of the polls.

Political analyst Dr Bagish Chandra Verma told PTI that BJP failed to address grass root issues linked to masses during its entire campaign which was concentrated on national issues and ‘infiltration’ which rural massed failed to connect.

Besides, Muslims, Christians and tribals which were traditional vote bank of the JMM, women were added to its fold because of schemes like ‘Maiyan Samman Yojna’ promising Rs 2,500 financial aid to women in the age-group of 18-50 years from present Rs 1,000, said Verma, head of the department of political science at Ranchi University.

Women voters outnumbered men in 68 of the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) too played a spoilsport seizing a sizeable chunk of votes harming BJP and AJSU Party like in Chandankiyari where Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Amar Kumar Bauri not only lost to Umakant Rajak of JMM but could occupy only third spot.

BJP contested 68 seats while its ally AJSU Party in 10 and JDU (2) and LJP (Ram Vilas) one.