In Ranchi, the BJP faced a staggering setback across all five seats designated for the Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand. Nonetheless, it clinched nine seats, inclusive of Giridih, which was contested by its ally All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU).
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party celebrated a resounding triumph, securing victory in 12 out of 14 seats within the state.
However, this time around, the BJP faced defeats in several notable constituencies. Notably, in Khunti, Union Minister Arjun Munda, up against Kalicharan Munda of the Congress, suffered a significant defeat, with a staggering margin of 1,49,675 votes. In contrast, in 2019, his victory was narrow, with a margin of just 1,440 votes.
Moreover, the BJP suffered another notable loss in Dumka, where Sita Murmu (Soren), daughter-in-law of JMM chief Shibu Soren, contested. Despite her recent shift to the BJP, she was defeated by veteran JMM leader Nalin Soren, with a margin of 22,527 votes.
Further adding to the BJP’s setbacks, Geeta Koda, fielded in Singhbhum, faced defeat. Koda, who had contested from this seat as a Congress candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and emerged victorious, was surpassed this time by Joba Manjhi of the JMM, with a substantial margin of 1,68,402 votes.
The BJP’s inability to secure victory in the five tribal seats is widely interpreted as a significant blow to the party, especially considering its vigorous campaign under the banner of “400 paar,” confidently aiming to sweep all 14 seats in the state.
Analysts speculate that the BJP’s defeat may stem from mounting discontent in the tribal regions, exacerbated by the incarceration of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and general dissatisfaction with the party’s performance in the state. The prevailing public sentiment suggests that the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections could heavily influence the BJP’s prospects in the upcoming assembly elections scheduled later this year.
Furthermore, despite the Enforcement Directorate’s actions against Congress minister Alamgir Alam, they failed to sway public opinion in Jharkhand.
Insiders suggest that to bolster its performance in the assembly elections, the BJP may initiate an early campaign and reevaluate its organizational framework, focusing on deploying more grassroots workers.
It is speculated that the BJP’s strategic approach will prioritize winning over a maximum number of tribal and rural voters, currently aligned with the JMM or the Congress. Speaking to anonymously, a BJP insider disclosed plans for an immediate post-mortem of the party’s performance in the five seats following the formation of the government at the Centre. Emphasizing outreach efforts in rural areas to educate constituents about the Centre’s policies, the party aims to regroup and strategize for future electoral success.