After elections JVM stands where it was

Vijay Deo Jha Monday 18 June

Electorates maintained status quo ante for Babulal Marandi and his party Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) in Jharkhand.

For politicians like Marandi whose essence surely lies in his mouth; often spoke tom about his party emerging as a political alternative in Jharkhand, voters messed his dream.

Marandi, who was hopeful of his party would grab at least three seats—Godda and Palamu besides his own seat Koderma—was dismay to see the results.

Three things emerged quite prominently out of this election. The JVM is yet to complete its kindergarten years in the state politics, and, Marandi for the time being should redraw his strategy to finish the BJP in Jharkhand finally. The JVM never proved instrumental behind the defeat of the BJP nor it could sink its teeth so deeply in the BJP vote bank.

The election of the state assembly is scheduled to be held next year and Marandi said: “We have tested our strength successfully in this election and the JVM will emerge as the key to the power.”
Nevertheless, Marandi managed to retain his seat by a margin of 48520 votes but he suffered the biggest recession in his popularity comparing to his last victory in Koderma by a margin of more than one lakh votes. In rest 13 Lok Sabha constituencies his chosen lieutenants—Pradeep Yadav from Godda, Saba Ahmed from Giridih, Prabhat Kumar from Palamu, Akthar Ansari from Ranchi, Arvind Singh from Jamshedpur—became the casualty of the NDA onslaught.

Nowhere in Jharkhand could the JVM offer a tough challenge to either BJP or the UPA combine. Six of party candidates slipped to third position including Yadav, Ahmed and Prabhat Kumar whom Marandi fielded—believing them as a sure bet.

The pet anthem of the JVM; Jharkhand ka ek hi lal Babulal Babulal; was quite missing in the victory procession of Marandi in Koderma. Even JVM insiders said that the defeat of Yadav came as a rude shock for Marandi.

Yadav had virtually made Godda a tense battlefield for the BJP candidate Nishikant Dubey with reported cases of alleged physical clashes. Nevertheless, he bagged 176926 votes but he could not stop Dubey to win the election. Sahai slipped to third position and the great dream of the JVM to be the master of the Santhal Pargana politics was dashed to the ground.

Yadav who once loudly made his intention known to reduce and wipe out the BJP in Santhal Pargana is now looking for mundane accuses behind his defeat. The scene of disappointment came with multiple worries for Marandi as the BJP after a decade opened its account in two of the constituencies in Santhal Pargana region; Rajmahal and Godda. Devidhan Besra defeated JMM candidate from Rajmahal. The JVM candidate Som Marandi remained nondescript.

But then this election played the role of a great leveler as it brought other parties like the Congress, the JMM and the RJD at par with the JVM.