Jharkhand Assembly Elections-2025: The first phase of assembly elections in Jharkhand is currently underway, with voting being held in 43 constituencies. In this election, the key political rivalry is between the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), led by incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP has taken a strategic approach by placing its central leadership in charge of the election campaign, signaling its intent to make significant inroads in Jharkhand’s political landscape. Voting for the second phase, covering 38 more assembly seats, is scheduled for November 20.
BJP's Intensive Campaign Efforts
The BJP has committed substantial resources and leadership support to its campaign in Jharkhand. By keeping control of the campaign in the hands of its central leaders, the BJP aims to solidify its influence across the state.
A large number of BJP leaders actively campaigned on the ground in an attempt to capture voter attention and trust. This hands-on involvement by the party’s top brass reflects the BJP’s strategic prioritization of Jharkhand as a key electoral battleground.
Congress’s Limited Campaign Involvement
On the other hand, Congress's presence in the campaign has been comparatively minimal. Unlike the BJP, Congress has not prioritized Jharkhand as a central focus, with only a few senior party figures involved in the election process. Rahul Gandhi, one of the most prominent leaders of the Congress party, participated in election rallies in Jharkhand for just two days, after which there was little follow-up from other national leaders. This limited engagement stands in stark contrast to the extensive campaign being conducted by the BJP.
Congress had appointed Keshav Mahto Kamlesh as the party's state president a few months before the elections, yet Kamlesh is not contesting the election himself nor actively rallying other candidates. Rajesh Thakur, the former state president, is also absent from this election cycle.
Additionally, Alamgir Alam, a senior party leader and former legislative party head, is currently incarcerated, leaving his wife to contest in his place. The current leader of the legislative party, Rameshwar Oraon, has limited his campaigning activities due to health concerns, focusing solely on his own constituency.
Outsider Leadership in Congress’s Campaign
The Congress party has appointed Ghulam Ahmed Mir, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, as the in-charge of Jharkhand, with Tariq Anwar, from Bihar, serving as the election observer. However, these leaders have had a minimal presence on the ground. Mir, reportedly confined to Ranchi for the past two years, has not been actively campaigning in the constituencies. Similarly, Anwar’s campaign efforts have been largely unseen in the initial phase of the elections.
Traditionally, Congress relies on support from Muslim voters. However, despite appointing two Muslim leaders to oversee its campaign in Jharkhand, Congress’s limited on-ground visibility has raised questions about the effectiveness of its outreach in this election cycle.
Cong relying on Hemant Soren's popularity
The difference in campaign intensity between BJP and Congress is striking. BJP's campaign leaders have been active across the state, aiming to build momentum and voter support for the party. In contrast, Congress appears to be banking on JMM's popularity and the goodwill toward Hemant Soren to carry votes in its favor.
With the Congress campaign operating at a much lower level of visibility, it seems the party is relying heavily on an alliance-driven strategy rather than a focused, standalone campaign effort.
As the election progresses to its second phase, Congress’s apparent reluctance to fully commit to campaigning in Jharkhand may impact its performance. With BJP actively engaged, the outcome could hinge on whether voters respond to BJP's visible efforts or continue to support the JMM-Congress alliance based on Soren’s popularity.
The results will reveal if the BJP’s hands-on approach or Congress’s reliance on alliance loyalty will prove more effective in shaping the future of Jharkhand’s political landscape.
(PRAKASH KUMAR PANDEY)
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