Jharkhand polls: BJP has much at stake

For the ruling BJP in Jharkhand, a mineral-rich state, the NovemberDecember assembly polls are no less than a challenge, coming at it does after its setback in Maharashtra, as its performance here will have repercussions on a neighbouring large and politically important state like Bihar

After the Haryana and Maharashtra election results, the BJP has been facing a tough time from its allies and an assertive opposition that is showing signs of coming together after getting a fillip in Maharashtra. Another BJP ally, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), has decided to go it alone in Jharkhand. Hence, the BJP’s performance in the eastern state is going to have a direct effect upon its equations with its allies in other states as well. Political analysts say that if the BJP is unable to get the right numbers, then its NDA allies will give it a tough time.

Sources in Jharkhand said that the BJP may be hit hard by rebellion in its ranks. Saryu Rai, who was Food and Supply Minister in Chief Mnister Raghubar Das’ cabinet, resigned and announced he will fight against the chief minister. Another BJP leader who was a minister also resigned from the party and is fighting the polls for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the main opposition in alliance with the Congres party, after being denied party nomination. Apart from these two rebels, there are some more disenchanted leaders and their workers who could harm the party during the elections, analysts say

Political analyst Baijnath Mishr said: “In case the BJP does not get the numbers, its allies will make it difficult for the party. This will affect the BJP’s image.”

In 2014, the BJP along with smaller parties had a big win in Jharkhand and Raghubar Das could become chief minister - the first non-tribal head of government of a state that has a 26% tribal population. If the BJP is not able to get the right numbers in the forthcoming polls, then trouble will start brewing not only within the party but also with its allies including the Janata Dal(U) in Bihar.

Voting for the first phase of the five-phase elections is on November 30. State capital Ranchi is going to witness an interesting tussle between the BJP and the opposition alliance.The BJP has been winning this seat for the past 29 years and this time the JMM backed by the Congress wants to wrest the seat.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said that the five-phase polls in Jharkhand have been scheduled based on the Home Ministry’s report. “The Home Ministry this year in February 5 report says that the 19 of the 24 districts of Jharkhand are Left Wing Maoist-affected,” said Arora.

Arora said that the VVPAT machine will be used at all the 29,464 polling booths in the election. The Election Commission has made arrangements for postal ballots in six districts for differently-abled and voters aged over 80.