Tag: jharkhand polls voters

As Jharkhand Polls Come to an End, All Eyes on December 23

With AIMIM and TMC in the fray, the election results could go any which way despite a strong anti-incumbency factor.

Ranchi: The National Register of Citizens (NRC), Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Article 370, Ram Mandir, Pakistan, unemployment and inflation, communalism and secularism – any and every electoral bullet was fired by motor-mouth politicians in the state during the five phases of the Jharkhand assembly elections. Which of these tactics paid off is still not clear, but if pollsters are to be believed, the outcome may entirely depend on the combination of candidates in a seat.

Apart from national and regional parties which have direct stakes in the state, two prominent outside players had fielded candidates – Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s All Indian Trinamool Congress and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

While the TMC is unlikely to have direct influence on the results, AIMIM’s entry into the poll foray could shake things up. Some experts have even said the AIMIM could end up tilting the electoral outcome towards the ruling BJP in 8-10 seats.

According to analysts, though AIMIM may not win even a single one, its candidates have cornered a large number of Muslim minority votes – which would normally go to the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition – thereby ensuring a possible increase in the seat tally for the BJP despite the strong anti-incumbency factor.

“Had AIMIM not contested, JMM-Congress-RJD tally would have gone up astronomically,” said Sushanto Mukherjee, central committee member of Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC).

Also read: Final Electoral Contest Underway as Jharkhand Completes Last Phase of Polls

The MCC set up by veteran labour union leader A.K. Roy and other left parties like CPI-ML, CPIM maintained its distance from the BJP and JMM-Congress-RJD coalition. However, it may consider supporting the Hemant Soren-government in case of a situation favouring JMM-Congress-RJD.

The AIMIM had fielded candidates in constituencies like Dumri, Mahagama, Madhupur, Hazaribagh, Latehar, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Gande, Mandu, Sarath, Jamshedpur East, Lohardaga, Khijri and Mandar – where minority Muslim votes are in good concentration.

The TMC, on the other hand, had fielded candidates in Garhwa, Bhawanathpur, Panki, Tamar, Jagganathpur, Chaibasa, Manoharpur, Barhi, Kanke, Madhupur, Jharia, Littipara and Shikaripara. But things are not bright for TMC in Jharkhand. During the last assembly elections too, Trinamool had fielded candidates but did not pick up even a single seat.

An elderly voter during the fifth phase of the polls in Dumka, December 20, 2019. Photo: PTI

Exit poll results notwithstanding, election analysts gave 25-27 seats to BJP, 22 seats to JMM, 12 to Congress, seven to Ajsu Party, three to RJD, four to Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, four to the Left and the rest to other smaller parties and independents. Thus, the BJP may still yet emerge as the single largest party, but JMM-Congress-RJD will be the largest coalition. In such a situation, smaller parties, particularly the Ajsu Party, will become kingmaker.

Former chief minister Babulal Marandi, who has been claiming that voters want his party to form the government, may yet prove to be a loser though his party will play a decisive role in government formation. “Looks like December 23 counting day will throw up a hung assembly. I fear the Ajsu Party will demand for the chief minister’s post, going by the Maharashtra example,” said a senior BJP leader.

The Jharkhand assembly has a total of 81 members; and one member nominated by the governor, usually from the Anglo-Indian community. Polling began on November 30 in Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa and Bhawanathpur. The last phase of the polling took place on December 20 – in JMM-stronghold Santhal Pargana with a huge 71.17% voter turn-out.

While the state BJP completely depended upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home m inister Amit Shah for collecting votes in all the phases, the JMM-Congress-RJD combine mostly relied upon itself, though senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a few rallies in different places around the state. His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too visited Jharkhand one to address a rally.

A strong anti-incumbency factor was present in different regions of the state, particularly due to the policies of chief minister Raghubar Das. While the tribes were unhappy with him as he tried to amend Chota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Acts, the minority Muslim community was unhappy because of numerous lynching incidents in which members of the community were victims. The second phase region – comprising the belligerent Khunti-Simdega-Chaibasa region that had witnessed pathalgadi stir as a response to poor governance and implementation of government schemes – too had antipathy against Das.

Voters in remote villagers cried hoarse against systematic crippling of the public education system with many schools being reduced to just a para-teacher and a mid-day meal cooking maid. More so, there was displeasure of the para-teachers and the anganwadi workers as their demands for hike in remuneration had been disgraced with police action by the state government. The Christian community was unhappy because of the BJP government’s anti-conversion law, particularly aimed at the Church.

Also read: Interview | Raising Ayodhya, Kashmir Won’t Work in Jharkhand Elections: Babulal Marandi

The Modi-Shah’s election rallies began with Ram Mandir, Article 370 and Pakistan in the first phase – in Palamau divisional region – but as the time passed, gained more communal colour. After the Central government managed to pass the CAA in both houses of parliament, election campaigns got muddier.

The communal tone of the electioneering culminated in Dumka where Modi made his infamous ‘clothing’ remark on how to identify protestors. At another rally in Santhal Pargana’s Bhognadih two days later on December 17, he dared the Congress to announce to give ‘citizenship to all Pakistanis’.

Though opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, and coalition’s chief ministerial candidate Hemant Soren tried to get Modi-Shah duo to campaign on real issues of Jharkhand, they too fell prey to the communal tone set by the BJP. During the initial days of the campaign, the opposition had managed to raise the issues of unemployment, growing job loss, lynching, law and order problem, food security  and more. But as the days progressed, their campaign also fell in line with that of the BJP, replete with mudslinging. In the process, the real issues were forced to take backseat.

“The JMM has gained strength during the last few assembly elections. For a party that once remained restricted to Santhal Pargana alone, it has now spread to Chotanagpur and Palamau region too. This election too will see an increase in the strength of the party,” said Ashutosh Pandey, a political science professor at Ranchi’s St Xavier’s College.

He said many in the BJP would like a change in leadership if the saffron party emerges as the single largest party. “Things like NRC, CAA, Temple, Article 370, Pakistan during the rallies of the leaders had little influence on the voting pattern. At the end of the day, the entire poll outcome depends on the candidate combination of respective seats. Ajsu Party and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha of Babulal Marandi will play crucial role government formation,” Pandey added.

Also read: Jharkhand: Why Winning May Not Be a Breeze for Raghubar Das, Other Heavyweights

In fact, right from the beginning of Jharkhand, it is smaller parties and independent legislators who have called shots in government formation as most elections have thrown up a hung assembly. Marandi himself tasted the tantrum of smaller parties when he was BJP’s chief minister in the state. His government fell after the independents pulled off. Now, he will be on the other side.

Counting is set to take place on December 23. The BJP had begun its poll campaign with slogan: ‘Is bar 65 par’ (this time more than 65). Chief Minister Raghubar Das, interacting with the media after the last phase polling, appeared confident and said that the slogan would come true. “The exit poll predictions will be proved wrong on December 23,” he said.

JMM-Congress-RJD coalition’s chief ministerial candidate Hemant Soren, while interacting with the media at the end of the last phase of polling, said that his coalition stood for a positive campaign while the BJP pursued a negative approach. “Though we do not so much attach importance to the poll result predictions, we believe the coalition is headed for government formation. Anti-Jharkhand forces have been voted out,” said Soren.

Final Electoral Contest Underway as Jharkhand Completes Last Phase of Polls

While hoardings of chief minister Raghubar Das were accompanied by a picture of Modi, JMM’s Hemant Soren appeared to be confident appearing by himself in his party’s banners.

Dumka, Jharkhand: At around 11 o’clock in the morning, shopkeepers in the busy Teen Bazar Chowk of Dumka town, the seat of tribal politics in Jharkhand – also known as the second capital of the state – slowly turn up to their shops to deck them up. Christmas is near and they expect customers from rural areas around the city, to flock here to shop.

But more than buyers, one can see flags of the BJP and its arch-rival Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) flying atop the houses, through the narrow lanes. This display of rivalry of flags in Dumka indicates not only a contest between Hemant Soren of the JMM and Louis Marandi of the BJP, but a larger electoral contest between the two camps in the 16 constituencies of Santhal Pargana – the area that goes to polls on December 20 in the last phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2019.

“Both Hemant Soren and Louis Marandi are equally inaccessible to the people. While Hemant Soren likes to rely entirely on the thekedars (contractors), Louis Marandi too cares little for the people,” said Nirmala Putul, the poetess mukhiya of Dudhani Kurwa gram panchayat, which forms a part of the prestigious Dumka constituency.

Putul, whose poetry ‘Nagara ki tarah Bajte Sabd‘ (Words sounding like the Nagara) has earned her many literary accolades including the Sauhadra Samman by the Uttar Pradesh government, the Jharkhand Kala Sanskriti Samman by the government of Jharkhand, the Mizo Adivasi Samman by Mizoram among others, said, “Last time, there was a strong Narendra Modi tide and Hemant Soren had been washed away from Dumka seat. This time people have seen both Modi and Marandi.”

Also read: Interview | Raising Ayodhya, Kashmir Won’t Work in Jharkhand Elections: Babulal Marandi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a rally in Dumka on December 15 – where he made his controversial “identify them by their clothes” remark – and two days later in Bhognadih, on December 17, Modi, in a bizarre statement, dared the Congress to announce that it would give Indian citizenship to all Pakistanis.

JMM vs BJP’s Raghubar Das

Both Dumka and Bhognadih had been carefully chosen by the BJP as venues for the prime minister’s rally. While Dumka is the second capital of Jharkhand and home to the JMM patriarch and statehood warrior Shibu Soren, Bhognadih is the birthplace of Sido-Kanho – the Santhal warrior brothers who waged war against the British and perished.

Shibu Soren began his political journey from Sathal Pargana after he formed the JMM along with Vinod Bihari Mahato and A.K. Roy, fighting for a separate state of Jharkhand. For the first time the Jharkhand statehood movement, that had its origin in Chotanagpur with Jaipal Singh and was later pursued by N.E. Horo, had shifted to Santhal Pargana.

With this, the seat of tribal politics in Jharkhand too had shifted to Santhal Pargana permanently. Chief minister Raghubar Das, during the last two years, had tirelessly toured the length and breadth of Santhal Pargana and had held numerous rallies to weaken the JMM and win over voters for the BJP. He had also called for a JMM-mukt Santhal Pargana.

But the situation at the ground level appeared to be the opposite of Das’s call.

While the BJP’s banners and hoardings put up across Santhal Pargana showed Das’s lack of confidence in himself – a picture of Modi accompanied Das on the hoardings – Hemant appeared to have confidence in himself. In the hoardings, Hemant stands alone with small pictures of Shibu Soren and Congress president Sonia Gandhi placed to the point of obscurity in a corner.

A couple rides past hoardings of JMM and BJP at Swami Vivekanada Chowk in Dumka. Photo: Santosh K. Kiro

The Das-led BJP government in Jharkhand hopes to count on programmes like the free distribution of gas cylinders, toilets, ayushman bharat, sukanya yojna etc.

Also read: Jharkhand: Why Winning May Not Be a Breeze for Raghubar Das, Other Heavyweights

“Das’s Chota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act amendment efforts, his Local Residential policy, anti-conversion Religious Freedom Act etc, will go against the BJP. Apart from the tribes, non-tribal original settlers appear to have changed camp this time,” says Dhuni Murmu, a voter in Dudhani in Dumka.

Murmu said that since in towns like Dumka, Jamtara and Deoghar among others, a lot of people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who had come and usurped jobs and work, were provided patronage by the BJP, a reason why voters will go back to the JMM.

There is another reason why locals are upset. The sand in the Santhal Pargana rivers is being mined by Bihar contractors and their men, and is smuggled out to Bihar. Due to this, the sand, that normally should be available at Rs 200-300 per tractors, is being sold to the locals at Rs 1000-Rs 1,500 per tractor. Hills in the region too are being cut and converted into chips – all by contractors of Bihar origin. “The local tribal and non-tribal households, who want to construct houses, now have to pay very high,” Murmu said.

The sand in the river Ganges is of poor quality, according to Murmu, and hence high-quality sand from Santhal Pargana rivers like Mayurakshi, Tebra, Bhurbhuri, Dhobe, Vashnai etc, is being eyed by the sand contractors of Bihar. They have acquired sand mining contracts in these rivers from the Jharkhand government and are selling it to the locals at a very high price.

Business community’s support

The 16 Santhal Pargana constituencies that go to polls in the last phase of the assembly elections in Jharkhand are Rajmahal, Boiro, Barheit, Litipara, Pakur, Maheshpur, Sikaripara, Dumka, Jama, Jarmundi, Nala, Jamtara, Sarath, Poreyahat, Godda and Mahagama.

Important leaders whose fate will be decided in this phase of elections include UPAs chief ministerial candidate JMM’s Hemant Soren – who is contesting from two seats, Dumka and Barheit, JMM’s Lobin Hembrom from Boriyo Stephen Marandi from Maheshpur, Nalin Soren from Shikaripara, Congress’s Alamgir Alam from Pakur and Irfan Ansari from Jamtara, among others. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha’ Pradeep Yadav from Godda, former BJP state president Tala Marandi, who had opposed the CNT Act amendment effort and was subsequently denied a ticket, is contesting on a ticket from the Ajsu party from Boriyo.

JMM and BJP flags fly atop houses in Teen Bazar area of Dumka. Photo: Santosh K Kiro.

Many voters pointed out that Das’s bad treatment of para-teachers and anganwadi workers will also work against the BJP. Para-teachers had been brutally lathi-charged by the Raghubar Das government when they had held a protest during the statehood day celebrations in Ranchi last year. Many who were severely injured were from the Santhal Pargana. Similarly, anganwadi workers too had been mercilessly beaten up during the demand for increase of remuneration. Most of them hailed from Santhal Pargana.

Even members from the business community feel that the BJP is all talk and no work. “Our business has been badly hit due to bad policies and poor governance. We have become poorer. Many from our business community are no longer with the BJP this time,” said Amit Modi, a businessman of Dumka who deals in pipes.

Also read: Shibu Soren’s Magic Endures in the Santhal Parganas. But Can it Win Polls?

“Though Prime Minister Modi is frequenting Santhal Pargana, there is no Modi wave. We would much like him to sit in his office and work, instead of his flying around and addressing rallies,” Modi said.

Santhal Pargana’s Modi may claim that a chunk of his business community voters have deserted Delhi’s Modi, but government officials say the opposite. “It is true that many in the business community are disenchanted with Prime Minister Modi, but when they go to press the button, they press the lotus, saying: aur kisko denge (who else will we vote for),” said a government official in Dumka, who too has been deployed in poll duty.

The JMM, however, is hoping that supporters of the self-dented BJP will fall in its bag. “There is gatbandhan lahar (coalition’s wave) in the entire Santhal Pargana. It is true that Raghubar Das tried to dent the JMM vote bank with his frequent visits and rallies. But voters are with us,” claimed Ranjit Besra, a JMM leader of Santhal Pargana.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi too held rallies in Santhal Pargana for JMM-Congress-RJD coalition candidates. Priyanka addressed a rally in Pakur on Wednesday. The contest, however, is tough for both the camps, going by the voting pattern as was candidly pointed out by the government official.

Santosh K. Kiro is an independent journalist based in Ranchi.

Jharkhand: Why Winning May Not Be a Breeze for Raghubar Das, Other Heavyweights

The Jharkhand chief minister’s leadership style has come under criticism over the years. He also faces tough competition in former cabinet colleague Saryu Rai, who contesting as an independent candidate.

Ranchi: The polling for the second phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections on Saturday sealed the fates of many of the state’s political heavyweights, including chief minister Raghubar Das, assembly speaker Dinesh Oraon, BJP president Laxman Gilua, Das’s cabinet colleague Nilkant Singh Munda, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha veteran Champai Soren and vociferous tribal leader and former minister Bandhu Tirkey.

Political observers have maintained that the election this year around will not be a cakewalk for Das, who faces tough competition in former cabinet colleague Saryu Rai, contesting as an independent candidate from Jamshedpur East assembly constituency.

Rai decided to contest as an independent after being denied a ticket by the BJP – he has been a critic of Das’s policies and leadership style. During his campaign, Rai pulled in huge crowds and it was also learnt that many from the business community are backing him.

Also read: Civil Rights Group Claims Parties Ignoring People’s Issues in Jharkhand Polls

“Rai has given Das a tough fight, but it is still difficult to predict the outcome. Das, apart from having been at the helm of affairs, had the cadre More so, Das has represented this constituency for five terms – he knows many of the families. But the unfulfilled promise of regularisation of 86 illegal colonies will work against him. This is why it wouldn’t be an easy win for Das,” said journalist Ajay Ojha.

The Jharkhand chief minister’s style of functioning has been met with many unhappy murmurs over the years. Thus, cross party voting and support may not come as a surprise.

People wait in queues to cast their voted during the second phase of the Jharkand assembly elections, at Bundu, 45 km from Ranchi, on December 7, 2019. Photo: PTI

In speaker Dinesh Oraon’s constituency Sisai-West, about 60 km south of Ranchi, there was some police firing reported on the day of polling. It arose from a verbal spat between a policeman and voters at Bagni village in Sisai, and left one voter dead and two others injured. The victim has been identified as Gilani Ansari and the two injured are Astaf Ansari and Tabrej Ansari – both of whom were referred to Ranchi for treatment. Polling was cancelled in the booth following the incident, which took place at around 9.30 am.

Sisai has been the home of Congress veteran Kartik Oraon, who represented Lohardaga Lok Sabha seat in parliament. Oraon, however, played one group of tribes against another group across religious lines, a tactic that failed and eventually allowed the BJP to pick up the seat.

While the Lohardaga Lok Sabha seat is now being represented by Sudarshan Bhagat, Sisai Lok Sabha seat is in Dinesh Oraon’s hands – and both are from BJP. During the last assembly election, Oraon had secured 44,472 votes and Jiga Susaran Horo had come second with 41,879 votes.

“It won’t be easy for Dinesh Oraon to win, given the pattern of votes, as Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate Jiga Susaran Horo has given him tough fight,” said a Sisai assembly constituency voter.

Also read: Jharkhand Assembly Elections: Candidates Steer Clear of Local Issues in Campaigns

Interestingly, Sisai was the constituency that recorded the highest polling percentage – 68.60% – among the 20 constituencies that went to poll on Saturday. These included Bahragora (66.38%), Ghatshila (64.47%), Potka (61%), Jugsalai (59%), Seraikela (56.77%), Chaibasa (62.28%), Majhgaon (66.67%), Jagannathpur (60.77%), Manoharpur (60.03%), Chakradharpur (62.72%), Kharsewan (60.12%), Tamar (67.83%), Torpa (59.11%), Khunti (59.20%), Mandar (61.14%), Kolebira (56.50%), Simdega (59.07%), apart from Sisai (68.60%), Jamshedpur East (46.41%) and Jamshedpur West (43.22%).

Overall, the polling percentage recorded in the second phase was 59.27%.

In Khunti, which served as the epicentre of the Pathalgadi movement, state minister and BJP veteran Nilkant Singh Munda is trying to save his seat. While JMM has fielded greenhorn Sushil Pahan, Jharkhand Vikash Morcha candidate Dayamani Balra, an anti-displacement activist is likely to emerge as his main opponent.

In Torpa, BJP’s Koche Munda is up against JMM’s Sudeep Guria. Munda had last time lost to Paulus Surin, whom JMM did not give a ticket to this year.

“The fight in Khunti and Torpa was a fight between politics of religion and politics of identity and rights,” said an assistant professor of Birsa College, Khunti.

The Singbhum region also went to the polls today in the second phase. Singbhum has been politically hyperactive as far as identity politics is concerned. It was here that legendary Jaipal Singh Munda had converted the Akhil Bharatiya Adibasi Mahasabha into Jharkhand Party, reportedly on the advice of veteran leader Justin Richard.

Ever since, Singbhum has remained hot bed of identity politics and is now the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s indomitable political fort. It has also offered strong opposition to Das’s attempts to amend the Chhota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act.

JMM veteran Champai Soren is trying to make a comeback from Seraikela seat and is up against Ganesh Mahli of the BJP. State BJP president Laxma Gilua had lost his Singbhum Lok Sabha seat in the recent general elections to Geeta Koda, wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, who had merged her Jai Bharat Samanta Party with the Congress to get the ticket. Gilua is now fighting for the Chakradharpur assembly seat.

Also read: Jharkhand: Rights Body Urges Govt to Withdraw Cases Against Thousands of Tribals

Mandar, a constituency on the outskirts of Ranchi, populated mostly by tribal and Muslim voters, is likely witness interesting results. Bandhu Tirkey, who had been put behind the bars on the charges of obstructing public servants from performing their functions and owning disproportionate assets, was released on bail just a few days before the poll and the sympathy of the voters may just work for him. The BJP had replaced sitting MLA Gangotri Kujur with former Congress leader Deo Kumar Dhan.

Kolebira and Simdega are two constituencies where the Jharkhand Party, which has its link with legends like Jaipal Singh and N.E. Horo – both of whom stand for statehood and identity politics – is a major player. Apart from Pathalgadi movement, these two constituencies are under the influence of Sengel Abhiyan – (‘Sengel’ meaning ‘fire’ in local Mundari language, thus ‘fire movement’). This is a tribal rights-based faction which has given its own candidates. The fire movement activists – another form of identity politics – have formed Rashtriya Sengel Party and fielded a candidate in Kolebira. Sengel votes have traditionally gone to the Jharkhand Party or the Congress.

In the third phase, scheduled for December 12, a total of 17 constituencies – including those in state capital Ranchi, as well as former chief minister Babulal Marandi’s constituency, Dhanwar – will go to the polls.

Jharkhand Assembly Elections: Second Phase of Polling Begins in 20 Seats

Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer said, “Several of the constituencies going for this phase of polling are Naxal-affected. So, armed police have been deployed as a part of security measures.”

Ranchi: The second phase of polling began Saturday morning on 20 constituencies in Jharkhand, which votes in five phases to elect 81 members of the legislative assembly.

The voting commenced at 7 am, amidst a tight security arrangement.

While the voting exercise in 18 seats will end at 3 pm, voters in Jamshedpur (East) and Jamshedpur (West) constituencies can vote till 5 pm, an Election Commission release said.

Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said, “Several of the constituencies going for this phase of polling are Naxal-affected. So, armed police have been deployed as a part of security measures.”

Out of a total of 6,066 polling stations, 949 have been declared ‘critical’ and 762 sensitive’ in Naxal-affected areas, he said.

The CEO said that 101 polling stations have been relocated due to security reasons and free transport facility has been arranged for voters to reach these stations to exercise their franchise.

A total 1,016 polling stations are located in towns and cities while 5,050 are in rural areas.

Webcasting facilities has been made available at 1,662 polling stations, the CEO said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted urging voters to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.

Out of the total polling stations, there are 337 model polling stations and 94 polling stations will be overseen by women polling personnel, Choubey said.

A total 48,25,038 voters, including 23,93,437 female and 90 third gender voters, are eligible to vote to decide the fate of 260 candidates, including 29 women nominees and 73 independents, he said.

According to police sources, more than 42,000 security personnel, including central forces, have been deployed on the 20 seats spread across seven districts.

The assembly segments going for polls are: Baharagora, Ghatsila (ST), Potka (ST), Jugsalai (SC), Jamshedpur (East), Jamshedpur (West), Seraikela (ST), Chaibasa (ST), Majhgaon (ST), Jaganathpur (ST), Manoharpur (ST), Chakradharpur (ST), Kharsawan (ST), Tamar (ST), Torpa (ST), Khunti (ST), Mandar (ST), Sisai (ST), Simdega (ST) and Kolebira (ST).

Also read: Will Pathalgadi Dominate the Second Phase of Jharkhand Polls?

BJP leader and Chief Minister Raghubar Das is facing challenge from his former cabinet colleague and independent candidate Saryu Roy from Jamshedpur (East) seat.

Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Dinesh Oraon is contesting from Sisai on a BJP ticket, while BJP candidate and Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda is contesting from Khunti.

The BJP’s state unit president Laxman Gilua, who lost the Lok Sabha elections from Singhbhum seat, is contesting from Chakradharpur.

The AJSU party candidate and Jharkhand Water Resources Minister Ramchandra Sahis is contesting from Jugsalai.

Former Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Pradeep Kumar Balmachu, who joined the AJSU party recently, is contesting from Ghatsila.

JDU state president Salkhan Murmu is contesting from Majhgaon.

JVM-P candidate and former HRD minister Bandhu Tirkey is contesting from Mandar against former MLA Deb Kumar Dhan of the BJP.

The BJP is contesting in all the twenty constituencies in the second phase while the opposition alliance of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress is contesting in 14 and six seats respectively.

The RJD, which has got a total seven seats as per the seat-sharing formula of the three opposition parties, has no candidate in this round.

NDA ally AJSU party, which is contesting the assembly elections on its own for the first time since the creation of the state, has fielded candidates from 12 constituencies in this phase.

The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) has nominated leaders in all the 20 seats while the Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded in 14 segments.

The CPI is contesting in two seats while the CPI-M is contesting in one and NCP in two.

Six candidates of the All India Trinamool Congress are also in the fray in this phase.

The first-phase of the five-phase polling for thirteen constituencies had concluded on November 30.

The rest of the three phases will be held on December 12, 16 and 20.

Counting will take place on December 23.

Civil Rights Group Claims Parties Ignoring People’s Issues in Jharkhand Polls

The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha has said that ‘this election is crucial for protecting democracy and constitutional values in the state’.

New Delhi: A civil rights group has accused political parties in Jharkhand of putting people’s issues on the backburner for the ongoing assembly elections in the state. The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha has also accused most political outfits, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, of remaining silent on the real demands of the people.

The Mahasabha – a coalition of activists and people’s organisations – had released a charter of people’s demands before the Lok Sabha which also covered the ongoing assembly elections. Through this charter, the opposition parties were urged to “show firm commitment” to people’s issues and demands.

‘Assembly election crucial for protecting democracy’

For the assembly polls, the coalition also compared the manifestos released by the main political parties contesting the elections. It accused the ruling BJP of ignoring the real issues and said its “manifesto reflects the party’s arrogance and continuing denial of severe violations of people’s rights over the last five years. It is silent on most of the demands of people.”

The Mahasabha reminded the parties and the voters that “this election is crucial for protecting democracy and constitutional values in the state”. The Mahasabha said this was because the “last five years saw constant attacks on people’s rights and basic tenets of democracy – attempts to amend local tenancy laws, amendment in the Land Acquisition Act, setting up of land bank, starvation deaths, lynching, atrocities on Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims and women, state-sponsored communalism, attacks on the freedom of expression and subversion on traditional self-governance systems of Adivasis.”

Also read: Jharkhand Assembly Elections: Candidates Steer Clear of Local Issues in Campaigns

‘Implementation of NRC exposes BJP’s communal ideology’

The Mahasabha also charged that the inclusion of the implementation of National Register of Citizens by the BJP in its manifesto exposed its “communal and anti-poor ideology”.

As for the other parties, the Mahasabha said the manifesto of the All Jharkhand Student’s Union also ignored most of the demands but had a few notable exceptions – primarily in its push for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, a law against mob lynching and reservation for backwards castes.

Other parties also silent on main demands

It said the manifestos of the Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) also did not include several demands that were based on the violations of people’s rights in the last five years of BJP rule.

As for Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) and CPI(ML), the group said they reflected most of the demands of the people. However, the group said the CPI(ML) did not release a detailed manifesto for the assembly elections as it did for the Lok Sabha polls.

The Mahasabha also pointed out that despite strong opposition from the masses against the formation of a land bank on “gair majrua” land, none of the parties had shown a commitment to repeal the policy. On the other hand, it hailed the declaration of the Congress to “cancel projects such as the Adani power plant and Mandal and Icha Kharkayi dams”.

As for the JMM, the civil rights group said the party was only talking about “reviewing” such projects while the JVM had maintained a staunch silence on their future.

Key demand of Adivasis ignored

The Mahasabha said that a key demand of Adivasis has been the implementation of the Fifth Schedule provision which deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas as well as of Scheduled Tribes residing in states others than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The group has said that barring the JVM, none of the other parties have shown any commitment to this demand.

Also read: Jharkhand: Rights Body Urges Govt to Withdraw Cases Against Thousands of Tribals

Regarding the demand for formulating a new domicile policy in favour of local residents, the Mahasabha said on this issue too the opposition parties have been offering “vague commitments”.

‘Separating mob lynching from slaughter law a sign of majoritarianism’

The Mahasabha also questioned the manner in which the issues of mob lynching and bovine slaughter law had been treated by various parties. “A welcome move by all opposition parties is the promise to formulate a law against mob lynching. But none of them commits to repealing the draconian bovine slaughter prohibition law that was in fact used to victimise some of the surviving victims of lynching incidents under the watch of the BJP government. It indicates the growing discourse of religious majoritarianism at the cost of values of secularism and equality, in opposition politics too,” it said.

In this regard, the civil rights group also took a dig at the silence of the opposition parties on the demand to repeal the Freedom of Religion Act, formulated in 2015.

‘Opposition silence on denial of welfare schemes too’

The group also attacked the opposition for not speaking out against the denial of entitlements to the poor. It said “despite the claims of ‘vikas’ (development) by the BJP, the state saw at least 23 starvation deaths in the last five years. Even opposition parties have not adequately addressed the issues of hunger, undernutrition and denial of welfare entitlements. Only the Congress has promised to increase the monthly PDS grain entitlement to 35 kg per family and to include pulses in that.”

Also Read: Jharkhand Citizens: People’s Rights Under Attack; Want New Government to Uphold Them

The group, however, lamented that none of the parties promised to increase the coverage of the PDS or social security pensions. “Even though Jharkhand has among the highest levels of undernutrition in the country, no political party has talked about increasing the number of eggs in the meals given to children in schools or Anganwadis,” it said and added that “Aadhaar has created havoc in welfare programmes in the state” but none of the parties spoke about delinking it.

The Mahasabha said the last five years had seen “staggering violations of political and civil rights” and yet most parties remained “largely non-committal on redressing them”. In this regard, it also referred to the repression and human rights violations in Pathalgadi villages.

“Thousands of people, primarily Adivasis, have been accused of sedition as ‘unknowns’ in several FIRs. None of the parties has committed firmly to closure of sedition charges, removal of police camps and taking responsible security personnel to task,” the group said.

Overall, it noted that it was “worrying that in this election season, political parties are more interested in securing defections of candidates from other parties, than finding solutions for addressing people’s demands.

Will Pathalgadi Dominate the Second Phase of Jharkhand Polls?

The constituencies that go to polls in the second phase are areas which have seen movements of tribal icons like Birsa Munda and Jaipal Singh.

Ranchi: The controversial Pathalgadi movement – an issue that wreaked havoc in Jharkhand and prompted the state’s high-handedness on one hand and the people’s reactionary posture on the other – seems to have been given a safe burial in the assembly election.

While political parties including the opposition, which often criticised the state’s BJP government over the subject, is keeping mum, Congress star campaigner Rahul Gandhi, who addressed a rally in Simdega on Monday, chose to harp on a similar emotional issue: the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act.

The constituencies that go to polls in the second phase of Jharkhand’s elections on December 7 already saw a pre-run of the political battle when most places of the region witnessed tribal dissent in terms of the Pathalgadi movement spanning over two years. What began as a people’s reaction to lack of development, took the form of Pathalgadi (erecting stones slabs with constitutional principles engraved on them) invoking tribal traditions and barring the entry of government officials into the village.

This resulted in steep friction between Adivasi villagers and the state machinery, often leading to armed battles from either side. In one incident, the bodyguards of the Khunti member of parliament and deputy chairman of Lok Sabha Karia Munda were abducted by the villagers, and in retaliation the state carried out repressive actions, further aggravating the situation. Many leaders were picked up under various sections of the law and put behind bars.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi waves at his supporters during an election campaign rally for the Jharkhand Assembly polls, in Simdega district, Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. Photo: PTI

The Pathalgadi movement also saw a twist when a mysterious rape case surfaced, in which a Roman Catholic priest was arrested on the charge of criminal conspiracy, and put behind the bars. The issue also witnessed thousands of villagers charged with sedition, throwing the region into political turmoil, the undercurrents of which continue to exist in spite of political parties choosing to keep the issue non-electoral.

Also read: Jharkhand Assembly Elections: Candidates Steer Clear of Local Issues in Campaigns

“The Congress will never allow any change in Chota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act – both of which the BJP government in the state had tried to amend,” said Gandhi, addressing his first rally in the assembly elections of Jharkhand in Simdega.

The second phase of the elections will take place in 20 constituencies. These include Baharagora, Ghatsila, Potka, Jugsalai, Jamshedpur East, Jamshedpur West, Seraikella, Kharsawan, Chaibasa, Majhgaon, Jaganathpur, Manoharpur, Chakradharpur, Tamar, Mandar, Torpa, Khunti, Sisai, Simdega and Kolebira.

Due to vesting of Mundari Khunt-kati land and forest – in which the Mundas are the owners (Jamindars) of the land and the forest instead of the government of India, according to a special arrangement provided since the days of the British – into the state, constituencies like Khunti, Torpa, Simdega and Kolebira witnessed tribal dissent that took the form of Pathalgadi.

Women show their identity cards as they in a queue to cast their votes at a polling station during the first phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections in Lohardaga district, on November 30, 2019. Photo: PTI

Villagers invoked the tribal tradition of erecting stone slabs, usually done during death ceremonies. However, instead of the cultural line, a political colour was given in which phrases were carved on the stones that read that people including government officials from outside the village, were not allowed inside the village.

This movement spread in the entire region and conflict between the police and villagers became too frequent, turning many districts into a virtual battlefield. The BJP government’s effort to amend the CNT and SPT Acts also lent fear in the minds of the villagers. There are about 150 villages in Khunti-Torpa area in which, according to Section 8 of the CNT Act, the Munda has the right to hold (own) jungle land (forest).

Interestingly, the constituencies that go to poll in the second phase are areas which have seen movements of tribal icons Birsa Munda and Jaipal Singh. While land and forest were at the root of Birsa’s movement in the late 1890s, tribal self-determination and the separate state of Jharkhand was at the root of movement of Jaipal Singh in early 1940s upto 1960s. It was in the area of the second phase of elections that the seed of separate statehood of Jharkhand had been sown in the early 1950s when Jaipal Singh formed his Jharkand Party in Jamshedpur in 1950.

Also read: In Jharkhand’s Khunti, Aftermath of Pathalgadi Movement Likely to Be a Poll Issue

Political heavyweights whose fate will be decided include chief minister Raghubar Das from Jamshedpur East, who is being given a tough battle by his beleaguered former BJP colleague Saryu Rai. Congress national spokesperson Gaurav Vallabha is the third man in the race from this constituency.

Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das rides pillion on a motorcycle during his election campaign for the second phase of assembly elections, in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. Photo: PTI

Rai, a critic of Das on policy matters, had been denied ticket by his party and is contesting as an Independent while Vallabh has been a professor in XLRI, Jamshedpur. BJP state president Laxman Gilua, who was adamant in amending CNT and SPT Act and often voiced support for state high-handedness in Pathagadi issue, lost his Lok Sabha seat Singbhum and is trying to enter the Jharkhand assembly through the Chakradharpur constituency. Sukhram Oraon, who was given ticket by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bypassing sitting MLA Shashi Bhushan Samad, is learnt to be giving a tough contest to Gilua.

In Khunti Nilkant Singh Munda, whose brother Kalicharan Munda contesting Lok Sabha on Congress ticket earlier this year, lost by a very thin margin to now Union minister Arjun Munda, is trying to stage a come-back. In Simdega, where Rahul Gandhi held a rally for the party’s Kolebira and Simdega candidates Biskal Kandulna and Bhushan Bara respectively, Jharkhand party candidates – 25-year old girl Irene Ekka and former ADG (Police) Rezi Dungdung, a JNU Delhi alumni – are said to be giving tough contest.

In Tamar exists a peculiar situation of victim and the victimisers in a triangular contest. Vikash Munda of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, son of Ramesh Singh Munda who was killed in a Naxal attack, is trying to save his seat. The contests include Gopal Krishna Patar, who had been arrested for his alleged conspiracy in the murder case, and Kundan Pahan, the dreaded Naxalite who surrendered and is behind the bars, alleged to have been involved in the Ramesh Singh Munda murder.

Political parties campaigning for their candidates Kunti, Tamar, Torpa, Kolebira, Simdega, Seraikella and Kharswan want to forget the Pathalgadi movement and move on. But how much the villagers are ready to forget the immediate past, is a question nobody wants to ask.

Also read: Jharkhand Elections: In Jamshedpur East, the Fight Is Between Official and Unofficial BJP

“If our state power does not take care of our Mundari Khunt-kati system, the state will not have peace. The British were not fools to recognise Mundari Khunt-kati system,” said Rashmi Katyayan, a noted lawyer, legal expert on Mundari land system and tribal customary law in Jharkhand. “Coincidentally, it is from the Mundari Khunt-kati system that the country has provision of the Panchayat (Extension to Schedule Area) Act, popularly known as PESA Act.”

On Sunday, defence minister Rajnath Singh campaigned for BJP candidates in Jamshedpur. Singh, in his address, chanted temple, 370, toilets and gas cylinder.

Santosh K. Kiro is an independent journalist based in Ranchi. 

Jharkhand Records 62.8% Voter Turnout in First Phase of Assembly Polls

The rest of the four phases for the 81-member assembly will be held on December 7, 12, 16 and 20.

Ranchi: An estimated 62.87% votes were cast when voting ended at 3 pm on Saturday in the first of the five-phase Jharkhand assembly elections in 13 constituencies, amid sporadic incidents of violence, officials said.

The percentage is likely to increase as voters who entered the polling stations by 3 pm will be allowed to exercise their franchise, they said.

A total of 37,83,055 electorate, including 18,01,356 women and five third-gender voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in the first phase of polling across six districts, which began at 7 am, Election Commission (EC) officials said.

Additional Director General of Police Murari Lal Meena said Naxalites exploded a bomb near a culvert in the forests of Gumla district, but there was no casualty or damage.

“The explosion occurred near the culvert in the forests between Banalat and Biranpur villages under Bishunpur assembly constituency of the district,” Meena said.

He, however, said “peaceful” polling is underway in all the 13 constituencies.

Also read: Polling for First Phase Begins in Jharkhand

Palamau Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Shantanu Agrahari said a minor clash broke out between two groups near Kosiyara polling station in Daltonganj assembly constituency.

The agitators broke the window panes of a police vehicle after Congress candidate K N Tripathi allegedly tried to enter the polling booth with arms, he said, adding, the situation was quickly brought under control.

Police has seized a pistol and three cartridges, which were allegedly in Tripathi’s possession, Agrahari said.

The EC officials said women and youth were among the early voters in the first of the five-phase elections to the 81-member Jharkhand assembly.

The fate of 189 candidates, including 15 women nominees, will be decided in the first phase of the polling in Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa, and Bhawanathpur.

Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das greets his supporters during an election campaign rally for the Jharkhand assembly elections, at Chakradharpur in West Singhbhum district, Friday, November 29, 2019. Photo: PTI

The Bhawanathpur constituency has the maximum of 28 contestants, while Chatra has the lowest with nine.

Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said a total of 4,892 polling stations have been set up, out of which 1,262 would have webcasting facilities.

Meena said a total of 1,097 polling stations in Naxal-affected areas were marked as hypersensitive and 461 polling stations as sensitive.

Palamau Divisional Commissioner Manoj Kumar Jha said the timing of voting has been fixed between 7 am and 3 pm as several polling stations are in remote areas, and also due to the shorter days in winter.

Key candidates in the fray are Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee and state Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi from Bishrampur and state Congress president Rameshwar Oraon from the Lohardaga seat.

Oraon is taking on the former state Congress chief Sukhdeo Bhagat after the latter joined the BJP recently.

Former BJP chief whip Radhakrishna Kishore, who was denied ticket from Chhatarpur, is contesting on an All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) party ticket from the same seat.

Also read: Elections in Jharkhand May Also See a Battle Between National and Local Issues

The BJP, which is seeking a second straight win under the leadership of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, is contesting in 12 seats in the first phase while it is supporting Independent candidate Vinod Singh from Hussainabad.

The AJSU party is contesting on its own.

Challenging the BJP is the opposition alliance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

While the Congress is contesting in six seats in the first phase, the JMM is fighting in four and the RJD in three constituencies in the first phase.

The other parties contesting the elections are Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), Janata Dal (United) and the Left parties.

The rest of the four phases for the 81-member assembly will be held on December 7, 12, 16 and 20.

Counting is scheduled for December 23.