Who will be the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand?
November 29, 2014
Jharkhand ceases to surprise so far as the issue of chief ministership is concerned. The state in the past has seen even an Independent, Madhu Koda, annexing the CM’s throne. In a brief span of 14 years since its formation in November 2000, the state has seen five chief ministers, but what makes the whole issue murkier is the fact that the CM’s chair was shared among these five men on nine different occasions! 
While the reason is attributed to fractured mandates in successive elections in the state, it is more to do with opportunistic alliances and political expediency.
November 29, 2014
Jharkhand ceases to surprise so far as the issue of chief ministership is concerned. The state in the past has seen even an Independent, Madhu Koda, annexing the CM’s throne. In a brief span of 14 years since its formation in November 2000, the state has seen five chief ministers, but what makes the whole issue murkier is the fact that the CM’s chair was shared among these five men on nine different occasions! While the reason is attributed to fractured mandates in successive elections in the state, it is more to do with opportunistic alliances and political expediency.
While the reason is attributed to fractured mandates in successive elections in the state, it is more to do with opportunistic alliances and political expediency.Former Jharkhand CMs in the Fray
This time once again all the former CMs (barring three time CM, Shibu Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha who is now a Member of Parliament) are in the fray – Hemant Soren (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), three time CM, Arjun Munda (BJP), Madhu Koda (who has floated his own Jai Bharat Samanta party), and Babulal Marandi (Jharkhand Vikas Morcha – Prajatantrik). Among them though, only Hemant and Marandi are contesting as their respective party’s CM face. Both of them carry their respective political outfits on their shoulders. Both are taking no chance and have opted to contest from more than one constituency. Incidentally, Marandi’s party, the JVM-P, has had limited success in the state polls and that does not augur well for Marandi’s prospects. Hemant, the last CM before the elections and the son of Shibu Soren is a sitting MLA from his father’s stronghold, Dumka. Besides Dumka, he is also contesting from Barhet against Hemlal Murmu who was a minister in the Hemant Soren cabinet and had recently quit the JMM to join the BJP. Yet, Hemant, who has little to showcase as the CM during his short 14 month stint, has a tough task ahead to ensure that his government’s achievements are highlighted well. His challenge is multifold given the facts that the JMM banks heavily on him and that the Congress broke its alliance with the JMM on election eve.
Five Zones of Jharkhand have Distinct Preferences
The state is divided into five prominent zones – Santhal Pargana, Kolhan, South Chhota Nagpur, North Chhota Nagpur and Palamu – all of which have their own political preferences. The JMM has a significant hold in Santhal Pargana and here its main clash is with the BJP. Kolhan is considered a BJP base but here the JMM too has a significant clout. Hence here too, the battle would primarily be between the BJP and the JMM. In South Chhota Nagpur, the BJP is pitted against the Congress while in North Chhota Nagpur, the contest would be quadrangular between the BJP, the JVM, the Congress and the JMM. The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal has significant clout in the Palamu region though.
This time once again all the former CMs (barring three time CM, Shibu Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha who is now a Member of Parliament) are in the fray – Hemant Soren (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), three time CM, Arjun Munda (BJP), Madhu Koda (who has floated his own Jai Bharat Samanta party), and Babulal Marandi (Jharkhand Vikas Morcha – Prajatantrik). Among them though, only Hemant and Marandi are contesting as their respective party’s CM face. Both of them carry their respective political outfits on their shoulders. Both are taking no chance and have opted to contest from more than one constituency. Incidentally, Marandi’s party, the JVM-P, has had limited success in the state polls and that does not augur well for Marandi’s prospects. Hemant, the last CM before the elections and the son of Shibu Soren is a sitting MLA from his father’s stronghold, Dumka. Besides Dumka, he is also contesting from Barhet against Hemlal Murmu who was a minister in the Hemant Soren cabinet and had recently quit the JMM to join the BJP. Yet, Hemant, who has little to showcase as the CM during his short 14 month stint, has a tough task ahead to ensure that his government’s achievements are highlighted well. His challenge is multifold given the facts that the JMM banks heavily on him and that the Congress broke its alliance with the JMM on election eve.
Five Zones of Jharkhand have Distinct Preferences
The state is divided into five prominent zones – Santhal Pargana, Kolhan, South Chhota Nagpur, North Chhota Nagpur and Palamu – all of which have their own political preferences. The JMM has a significant hold in Santhal Pargana and here its main clash is with the BJP. Kolhan is considered a BJP base but here the JMM too has a significant clout. Hence here too, the battle would primarily be between the BJP and the JMM. In South Chhota Nagpur, the BJP is pitted against the Congress while in North Chhota Nagpur, the contest would be quadrangular between the BJP, the JVM, the Congress and the JMM. The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal has significant clout in the Palamu region though.
BJP has a Wider Base in Jharkhand
This explains the reason of fractured verdicts in the past elections in the state. However, the BJP does have seemingly wider base in the state as compared to other parties. It has also ruled the state for the longest period of time. Like in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir, the Lotus has sought to maintain the unity in the party by not naming any CM candidate in Jharkhand too.
This explains the reason of fractured verdicts in the past elections in the state. However, the BJP does have seemingly wider base in the state as compared to other parties. It has also ruled the state for the longest period of time. Like in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir, the Lotus has sought to maintain the unity in the party by not naming any CM candidate in Jharkhand too.
Tribal versus Non-Tribal CM
Yet, would it settle for a tribal CM again in case it wins, is to be seen particularly after the tribal versus non tribal CM issue has been raked up this election by the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former union minister, Yashwant Sinha (whose son, Jayant, was recently inducted as a minister of state at the Centre). Though the senior Sinha is well past 75, and thus fails Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criteria (of ‘below 75’) to be qualified for the CM’s post, his call for a non-tribal CM has many takers in a state which though was formed with the idea of a homeland for the tribals, has about 76 per cent non-tribal population. All the CMs of Jharkhand were tribals including the BJP’s Babulal Marandi (the state’s first CM who later formed his own political outfit, the JVM-P) and Arjun Munda.
Yet, would it settle for a tribal CM again in case it wins, is to be seen particularly after the tribal versus non tribal CM issue has been raked up this election by the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former union minister, Yashwant Sinha (whose son, Jayant, was recently inducted as a minister of state at the Centre). Though the senior Sinha is well past 75, and thus fails Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criteria (of ‘below 75’) to be qualified for the CM’s post, his call for a non-tribal CM has many takers in a state which though was formed with the idea of a homeland for the tribals, has about 76 per cent non-tribal population. All the CMs of Jharkhand were tribals including the BJP’s Babulal Marandi (the state’s first CM who later formed his own political outfit, the JVM-P) and Arjun Munda.
Arjun Munda : A Frontrunner For CM’s BJP
The tribal-centred politics has not helped Jharkhand much. Yet, if party insiders are to be believed, Munda’s performance when he was the CM for the third time, unlike his earlier stints, had shown a marked improvement. So should he be given another chance? Obviously, Munda has emerged as a prominent tribal face in and outside the state. However, his detractors say his proximity to union minister and former BJP president Rajnath Singh (who had helped him become the CM for the first time) may go against him given the perception that Modi does not entertain camps in the party. Munda is contesting from Kharsawa from where he is a sitting MLA.
The tribal-centred politics has not helped Jharkhand much. Yet, if party insiders are to be believed, Munda’s performance when he was the CM for the third time, unlike his earlier stints, had shown a marked improvement. So should he be given another chance? Obviously, Munda has emerged as a prominent tribal face in and outside the state. However, his detractors say his proximity to union minister and former BJP president Rajnath Singh (who had helped him become the CM for the first time) may go against him given the perception that Modi does not entertain camps in the party. Munda is contesting from Kharsawa from where he is a sitting MLA.
Sudarshan Bhagat: A Dark Face
A surprise CM choice from among the tribal for the BJP, party insiders say, could be Sudarshan Bhagat who is an old Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) hand. A Member of Parliament from Lohardaga since 2009, he was the first from Jharkhand to be inducted by Modi in his ministry as MoS. At 45, he is a young face of the BJP, with considerable experience in government. He was a member of the Jharkhand Assembly between 2000 and 2009 and had also served as a minister there. He has a considerably cleaner image, and enjoys the confidence of Modi and could well emerge as a dark horse for the CM’s post in case the BJP forms the government in Jharkhand.
However, if the BJP wins and opts for a non-tribal CM, then the national BJP vice president and former deputy CM, Raghubar Das, 59, has emerged as a front runner for the post. He represents the industrialised Jamshedpur (East) constituency.
The Congress, like the BJP, has not put up any CM face in the state. Its state unit president Sukhdeo Bhagat is just 40-year-old tribal leader. Last year he was made the state Congress chief as the young MLA replaced Pradip Kumar Balmuchu, who had invited the ire of Jaya Bachchan when he took her photograph in Parliament, last year. The Congress’s alliance partner, the RJD’s Annapurna Devi has considerable hold in the districts bordering Bihar. However, RJD remains a fringe player like Marandi’s JVM and Sudesh Mahto’s All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU though has made a pact with the BJP in this election). However, in a state where even an Independent has become a CM in the past, why can’t the fringe players dream big? Indeed, Jharkhand does offer a level playing field to all!
A surprise CM choice from among the tribal for the BJP, party insiders say, could be Sudarshan Bhagat who is an old Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) hand. A Member of Parliament from Lohardaga since 2009, he was the first from Jharkhand to be inducted by Modi in his ministry as MoS. At 45, he is a young face of the BJP, with considerable experience in government. He was a member of the Jharkhand Assembly between 2000 and 2009 and had also served as a minister there. He has a considerably cleaner image, and enjoys the confidence of Modi and could well emerge as a dark horse for the CM’s post in case the BJP forms the government in Jharkhand.
However, if the BJP wins and opts for a non-tribal CM, then the national BJP vice president and former deputy CM, Raghubar Das, 59, has emerged as a front runner for the post. He represents the industrialised Jamshedpur (East) constituency.
The Congress, like the BJP, has not put up any CM face in the state. Its state unit president Sukhdeo Bhagat is just 40-year-old tribal leader. Last year he was made the state Congress chief as the young MLA replaced Pradip Kumar Balmuchu, who had invited the ire of Jaya Bachchan when he took her photograph in Parliament, last year. The Congress’s alliance partner, the RJD’s Annapurna Devi has considerable hold in the districts bordering Bihar. However, RJD remains a fringe player like Marandi’s JVM and Sudesh Mahto’s All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU though has made a pact with the BJP in this election). However, in a state where even an Independent has become a CM in the past, why can’t the fringe players dream big? Indeed, Jharkhand does offer a level playing field to all!
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