Shockwave in Jharkhand: BJP Faces Setback in Tribal Seats

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces unexpected losses in Jharkhand's five tribal seats as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance takes the lead. Despite BJP's anti-corruption campaign, JMM garnered significant tribal support. Infighting within BJP and a robust campaign by INDIA Bloc leaders contributed to the outcome.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has dominated the last three Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand, is facing an unexpected setback in the state's five crucial tribal seats - Khunti, Singhbhum, Lohardaga, Rajmahal, and Dumka.

The ruling JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand has taken the lead in all five seats, with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) performing well in three key constituencies - Singhbhum, Rajmahal, and Dumka.

Despite its rigorous campaign against corruption and law and order issues, the BJP's efforts seem overshadowed by JMM's successful appeal to tribal sentiments, particularly concerning 'injustice' against JMM executive president Hemant Soren. In a twist, Congress is leading in Khunti and Lohardaga.

Union minister and incumbent MP Arjun Munda is trailing behind Congress's Kalicharan Munda in Khunti by approximately 1.09 lakh votes, according to the Election Commission. In Lohardaga, Sukhdeo Bhagat of Congress leads by 49,584 votes.

In Singhbhum, JMM's Joba Manjhi holds an 80,393-vote lead over her closest rival, BJP's Geeta Kora, after the seventh counting round.

Kora, the spouse of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, joined BJP just before the elections. She was the state's lone Congress MP.

JMM's Vijay Hansdak is ahead by 41,684 votes over BJP's Tala Marandi in Rajmahal (ST) constituency.

In Dumka, BJP's Sita Soren, initially leading against JMM's Nalin Soren, now trails by 3,902 votes in a closely-fought contest. Sita, a three-time JMM legislator, joined BJP shortly before polls.

Historically, BJP held Khunti and Lohardaga in 2019, while Congress clinched Singhbhum. Dumka was a BJP stronghold, whereas Rajmahal was dominated by JMM.

Massive campaigns by INDIA Bloc leaders, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Kalpana Soren - wife of jailed ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, reinvigorated JMM's prospects.

Singhbhum, Khunti, and Lohardaga went to polls on May 13, while Dumka and Rajmahal voted on June 1. Of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand, six are reserved for SC and ST candidates. The opposition INDIA Bloc capitalized on former CM Hemant Soren's arrest to play the victim card.

BJP insiders acknowledge that internal conflicts further marred their electoral performance. In 2019, the NDA had won 12 of the 14 seats in the state, with Congress and JMM securing one seat each.