SoReign in Jharkhand: JMM chief halts saffron infiltration campaign

RANCHI: Around 2pm on Wednesday, as trends began pointing to a clear majority for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the assembly elections, the party's X handle posted a cryptic message – "How's the josh?"

The "josh" continued to heighten as the day progressed, as JMM – that traces its origin to a long-drawn battle that established a tribal identity with the creation of Jharkhand in 2000 – formed the first govt since then with an absolute majority. With wins in 34 out of the total 81 seats, JMM took the INDIA bloc to an unassailable 56 seats, two more than the two-thirds majority mark.

Congress with 16 seats, RJD with four and CPI(ML) two ensured a second consecutive term for the JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand.

NDA garnered 24 seats with BJP winning 21, and one each by its alliance partners JD(U), LJP-RV and AJSU Party.


Founding president of Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha Jairam Mahto emerged as the only person and party to win a seat beyond the two alliances.

While the INDIA bloc managed to effectively counter BJP's emphatic poll pitch of Bangladeshi infiltrators targeting Jharkhand's "mati, beti, roti," JMM leaders also credited the victory to its govt's flagship Maiyya Samman Yojana, which saw 91 lakh of the total 1.15 crore women electorate cast their vote across the state, clocking a turnout of 70.46%, higher than the male turnout of 65%. Under the scheme, women in the 18-50 age group receive Rs 1000 each per month.

While JMM improved its tally from 30 in 2019 to 34, it made a major mark by grabbing almost all 28 ST reserved seats with the help of its alliance partners. BJP could claim just one ST reserved seat – Seraikela -- where former CM and JMM turncoat Champai Soren won.


JMM also stamped its authority in tribal dominated Santhal Pargana where the INDIA bloc grabbed 17 of 18 seats, which the party touted as another example of BJP's infiltration claim floundering.

"I extend my gratitude to all who were in the electoral fray and helped us take the power of democracy to the people. With 56 seats, we are going to form ‘abua raaj, abua sarkar' (our state, our govt)," JMM working president and CM-face Hemant Soren said, soon after results were declared.

INDIA bloc had sensed victory early, with celebrations beginning in Ranchi in the morning. "We will celebrate Holi and Diwali at our party office; Eid, Christmas and Prakash Parv at Albert Ekka Square and Karma, Baha, Sahrul and Jatra at CM's residence," JMM central general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said, expressing gratitude to people from every community.

The win symbolises the secular nature of Jharkhand where divisive and communal agenda cannot work, he added.

Congress in charge of Jharkhand Ghulam Mir said the mandate in Santhal Pargana has sent out a strong message that people in Jharkhand believe in love and brotherhood and not in divisive politics.

"We had called out BJP's narrative as communal and in violation of model code of conduct. But, instead of the election commission, it's the people who taught them a lesson," Mir said.

The polls saw some big names biting dust, including AJSU Party founder Sudesh Mahto and Hemant Soren's sister in law and JMM turncoat Sita Soren.