New Delhi: With Hemant Soren reinstated as Jharkhand Chief Minister, the BJP appears to be on a sticky wicket in this tribal-majority state. Soren was sworn-in for his third term earlier this week after the Jharkhand High Court granted him bail in an alleged case of land grab.
The Assembly elections are scheduled for later this year, and BJP strategists acknowledge that Soren and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) were in a "stronger position" than before his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January this year.
The JMM and Soren have framed his arrest as an attack on "tribal pride," a sentiment that has seemingly resonated with the electorate. According to BJP insiders, the JMM has skillfully turned Soren's arrest into an emotional issue, garnering significant sympathy for the Soren family, which the BJP finds challenging to counter, particularly among tribal voters.
The BJP has been compelled to reassess its election strategy as "tribal pride" has overshadowed traditional issues like anti-incumbency, corruption, and law and order concerns.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured eight out of 14 parliamentary seats in Jharkhand but failed to win any of the five seats reserved for tribals. The JMM won three, the Congress two and the All Jharkhand Students Union, one.
"Before his arrest, the BJP was in a strong position. There was significant anger over issues like corruption, paper leaks, law and order, and recruitment. There was anti-incumbency not just against the government and several JMM MLAs but also against the Chief Minister. However, his arrest backfired on us. The JMM turned it into a tribal pride issue, and our leadership failed to counter it," said a senior BJP leader from the state.
The BJP’s decision to appoint the first non-tribal chief minister in 2014 also disillusioned the tribal community, contributing to the party's loss in the 2019 Assembly elections. In 2019, the JMM won 30 seats, its highest tally ever in the 81-member Assembly. The Congress and RJD are coalition partners.
BJP strategists recognise that Soren has emerged "politically stronger" following his arrest, and the "sympathy factor" is compelling the BJP to revise its strategies to challenge the JMM-led government, as most issues including anti-incumbency and corruption have "fallen flat."
“Unlike (Arvind) Kejriwal, Soren resigned as Chief Minister’s post and appointed his senior, Champai Soren, to succeed him, which strengthened his position among tribals. The JMM leadership continues to highlight this comparison to their tribal voter base,” added the BJP leader.
With the Assembly polls just a few months away, the BJP acknowledges that the JMM is more aggressive and combative than before Soren's arrest, posing a significant challenge to their election campaign.
