In the recently concluded Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha Elections, the JMM led INDIA alliance was able to secure 56 seats out of 81 whilst the BJP led NDA won in 24 seats. The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) dented the BJP and its alliance All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) by securing 10.31 lakh votes in 72 seats, capturing 6 percent of the vote shares. In fact, JLKM dented NDA’s prospects on at least 11 seats. The JLKM gained more percentage of votes than the winning margin of JMM led alliance in Jharkhand in at least 11 seats. It means he gained votes not only in Kudmi dominated areas but also in other areas in Jharkhand. Despite the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha’s splitting the anti-JMM votes across Jharkhand, the BJP’s core vote shares remained at 33.18 per cent against the JMM which is 23.44 per cent, which is 10 percent higher than the JMM. These figures demonstrates that the BJP core voters remained loyal to the party.
There are several reasons attributable to the rise of JLKM in Jharkhand. The JLKM contested the entire elections only on the agenda and narrative of Jharkhand definition of local inhabitants and for extending the consequential civil and political rights, economic, cultural and social rights, known as 1932 Khatiyan. In other words, the entire narrative of the JLKM was based on self-identity, which attracted youths in general, men and women of all ages in Jharkhand. In other words, the JLKM promised that if the party comes to power, the local population (who is an Indian Citizen and is within the territorial and geographical limits of Jharkhand and name of his/her ancestors is recorded in the survey/Khatiyan of 1932 or earlier) shall get preferential treatment and rights, however he promised to extend these rights prominently to Kudmi and leaving behind the Janjatiya Samaj. As such the promises were divisive yet effective in Jharkhand. Jairam Mahto used local media and local social media influencers wisely to increase his reach to the voters.
The party may be 3 to 4 months old, however the Party President Jairam Mahto and his supporters mainly youths were active in the field for about 3 years. The JLKM not only gained support from Kudmi Mahto which comprises 15 percent of the local population, also from Muslims in Jharkhand and gained prominence in Koylanchal area in Jharkhand. Jairam Mahto contested from Giridih Lok sabha seat in 2024 as an independent candidate and gained 27.46 percent of votes and secured 3,47,322 Votes.
In the Vidhan Sabha Elections 2024 Jairam Mahto of JLKM won by a margin of 10,945 votes from Dumri Vidhan Sabha which was considered as a strong hold of JMM. Likewise, In Bermo Vidhan Sabha, Jairam Mahto of JLKM secured 60,871 votes affecting the BJP. Similarly, in 19 Vidhan sabha seats such as JLKM was able to secure a considerable number of votes and stood in second and third Positions. Jairam Mahto and his members much before the formation of the party were actively involved in social engineering for last 3 years. The insider versus outsider narrative at micro-level based on 1932 Khatiyan played decisive role in the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha elections and much regard should be given to its candidate selection in respective constituencies considering the candidates fielded by NDA and INDIA alliance. All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), an alliance of BJP was able to win only 1 seat.
The AJSU lost its prominence since 2019 in Jharkhand whose major voters are Kudmi and JLKM was able to shift voters. The core NDA Kudmi votes shifted to JLKM, the BJP held its base, the JMM also retained core voters and added female voters after the declaration of Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana and AJSU is decimated and holds an uncertain future. The “Ek Hain to Safe Hain” phrase plays an important role which calls upon people having similar political ideology to remain united to avoid splitting and diluting the vote Banks. There is a huge dent on the issues of illegal infiltration in Jharkhand after the outcome of the result. The change in demography will remain a challenge that may disturb the cultural and social fabric of the state and importantly the security of India. The tribal identity which is considered to be integral to Jharkhand could be at risk.
