New Delhi
With only nine days left before the first phase of campaigning closes on November 11 for the Jharkhand assembly polls, the political climate is reaching a fever pitch. The BJP has intensified its efforts, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to visit the state shortly. In contrast, Chief Minister Hemant Soren appears to be fighting the election battle largely alone, with his allies notably absent.
The state will go to the polls in two phases—on November 13 and November 20—with vote counting set for November 23. The Congress secured 31 seats in alliance with the JMM, but the party has yet to launch its campaign in earnest.
After local leaders pressed the panic button, the Congres son Saturday announced thta Rahul Gandhi will visit the state on November 8 and 9, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on November 5.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal was in Ranchi two days ago to meet with party office bearers, though he avoided media interactions. Rahul Gandhi, who made a brief appearance in Jharkhand two weeks ago, has not returned since. Reports indicate candidate selection issues within Congress, with loyal local workers reportedly overlooked in favor of outside candidates, sparking unrest similar to the challenges Congress encountered in Haryana.
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So far, Congress has declared candidates for 30 seats across three lists, with the last two candidates nominated just a day before the filing deadline. Only one sitting Congress MLA, Umashankar Akela from Barhi, was denied a ticket; he is now running on a Samajwadi Party ticket.
The choice of Ghulam Ahmed Mir from Jammu and Kashmir as the Jharkhand Congress in-charge has raised eyebrows within the party. A senior Congress leader questioned the decision, asking, “Why not appoint someone from neighboring Bihar, who would better understand Jharkhand’s political landscape?”
The RJD, which is contesting five seats, has also offered little visible support. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav visited Ranchi last week but stayed confined to his hotel room and did not hold any public rallies. Soren, along with his wife Kalpana Soren, continues to campaign alone, holding rallies and reaching out to voters directly.
Meanwhile, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to wrest control of Jharkhand from the JMM-Congress coalition. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have been actively campaigning in Jharkhand well ahead of the election day. Chouhan, the BJP’s election in-charge, and Sarma, the co-in-charge, have taken every opportunity to challenge the ruling coalition on multiple issues.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Jharkhand on November 4 to rally support for NDA candidates, with public meetings planned in Garhwa and Chaibasa. Home Minister Amit Shah will address three rallies on November 3, covering Dhalbhumgarh (East Singhbhum), Barakatha (Hazaribagh), and Simaria (Chatra).
The BJP’s highly visible presence contrasts sharply with the Congress and RJD’s absence, leaving Soren and the JMM to navigate a challenging electoral field with limited ally support.
