Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 | BJP's costly mistake: Jail ordeal turns political tide in Hemant's favour

Patna: Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar in November 2000, has never repeated an incumbent government. But history was scripted on Saturday, when the JMM-led I.N.D.I.A alliance won two-thirds majority and helped Hemant Soren retain his chief-ministership.

More than the JMM and its leadership, the 'credit' for the landslide victory goes to the BJP, which shot itself in the foot when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Hemant after seven hours of questioning in a land-grab case on January 31. 

The young leader, who is the son of JMM stalwart Shibu Soren, was sent to the Birsa Munda jail. A tribal CM commanding popular mandate was forced to resign and make way for his confidant Champai Soren (who later joined the BJP for greener pastures).

This did not go down well with the people of Jharkhand, a state that has 26 per cent tribal population besides 20 per cent Muslims, who stand by the I.N.D.I.A bloc.

The Jharkhand High Court, while setting Hemant free on June 28, remarked that there was reason to believe that he was not guilty.

"It is precisely this ruling which turned the tide in JMM’s favour, when there was an undisclosed sympathy among the tribals who felt sorry for Hemant. The BJP leadership could not gauge the impact of the political blunder it committed by making Hemant a martyr in the eyes of tribals and Muslims," said Ranchi-based political commentator Dharamveer Sinha.

Instead, the BJP tried to drive a wedge between the tribals and Muslims, who have been living in harmony for decades.

"Batenge to katenge (divided, we fall)” was the slogan of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi.

"Katenge nahi, kutenge (We won’t be divided. We will beat them)," Hemant Soren would retort at every rally, asking voters to remain united.

Yet another factor which worked in Hemant's favour was the proper seat adjustment among the JMM, Congress, RJD and CPI-ML. This alliance had worked wonders in 2019 too, unlike 2014 when the JMM and Congress contested separately and lost.

Also, state BJP leaders lacked unity. It was certain that if the NDA came to power, Jharkhand BJP president and state’s first CM Babulal Marandi would don the mantle. But the BJP also had three more former CMs — Arjun Munda, Raghubar Das and Champai Soren — with each having their factions. 

Too many cooks apparently spoiled the saffron broth.

Maharashtra Assembly poll 2024 results | Check constituency results here

Jharkhand Assembly poll 2024 results | Check constituency results here

Bypoll 2024 results | Check Karnataka results here

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls took place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP went up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress tried to make their mark. Maha Yuti are currently comfortably poised to win. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faced a challenge after Hemant Soren's arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP, but look set to retain power with its I.N.D.I.A. allies. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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