JHARKHAND RESULTS SHOW MODI-SHAH MAGIC ON THE WANE

JMM’S HEMANT SOREN WINS ON PRO-FOREST RIGHTS TRIBAL TRUST
The impressive win by the Mahagathbandhan in Jharkhand indeed sends a powerful political message, though it is a small state. This is the second state that the BJP has lost in the past six months after Maharashtra. The Modi-Shah duo will have to take a step back and reflect, as with the addition of Jharkhand, the non-BJP governments in the country now control more than 65 per cent of the population. Democracy indeed is a great leveller. No doubt the results show that the Modi magic is on the wane even though he had emerged so much stronger just six months ago with an impressive win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

For the JMM, the victory would mean a fifth shot at heading the state government. It is also a victory to the former chief minister Shibu Soren’s family. Though Shibu Soren was grooming his elder son Durga, Hemant became the next choice after the death of Durga in 2009. Hemant has served as the youngest chief minister of the state from July 2013 to December 2014. In the past two years, it was his image builders – a team of dozen professionals who advised him to project him as a simple, approachable leader and exhibited his pictures riding a motorcycle or in the traditional tribal attire standing near a hut and shared even his family photos in the social media. He had served as a Rajya Sabha MP (2009 to 2010,) and deputy chief minister in the Arjun Munda-led NDA government from 2010 to 2013.So it is not a new thing for him to be in the government.

“Today a new chapter will begin for the state and that chapter will prove to be a milestone. Today the time has arrived to fulfil what Jharkhand was created for,” Hemant said soon after the victory on Monday. However, he faces many challenges ahead. Leading the Mahagadbandhan is not an easy as he will be wearing a crown of thorns. There is no ideology, which is binding the coalition partners, as it is just the power, which will be the glue. Jharkhand is known for its character of not having a stable government except Raghubar Das who had completed a full term. So he has to guard his chair.

The second and corollary of the first is to keep his flock intact. In a small state even defecting of a handful of legislators would destabilise the government. A wounded BJP is not going to miss any opportunities to form the government if there is any sign of instability. In the days of Aya Ram and Gayarams, poaching by the BJP cannot be ruled out. Unless he is able to satisfy the Mahagadbandhan legislators, this defection is a danger that is facing him.

The third challenge, which is immediate, is the making of his cabinet. There are many aspirants in the coalition for the 12 cabinet berths and finding a smooth formula for the cabinet formation and later distribution of portfolios is not very easy.

The fourth is to observe the coalition dharma. As of now, the coalition partners are fully behind him. He must try to follow a common minimum programme just the Maharashtra is doing. This alone will help smoothen the coalition difficulties.

The fifth and most important thing is the development of the state and fulfilling his party’s manifesto. Even as the BJP campaigned on issues such as Article 370, Triple Talaaq, citizenship Amendment Act etc, the JMM stuck to raising local issues such as unemployment, water scarcity and the protection of “jal, jungle, and zameen” (water, land and forest).

Jharkhand, one of the most beautiful states in the country needs huge development projects. The state needs more airports, road connectivity, rail transport and other infrastructure projects. And for this one needs money and he must try to find public private participation in many new projects. Jharkhand has rich mineral and natural resources and they must be utilised to the fullest extent for the benefit of the people of the state. Before the elections, Hemant Soren campaigned against the proposed amendments to the pro-tribal tenancy laws and fought the elections on bread and butter issues, land acquisition and unemployment. He also promised 50 per cent reservation to women in government jobs. Women form a formidable percentage of the voters. A key promise that Hemant made was reservation for locals in jobs. This had a direct connect with the youth, especially as unemployment was the biggest issue in the polls

The sixth is the governance. He must provide a corruption free and clean government. Jharkhand is known for its corrupt image of its politicians. This is indeed going to be a difficult task for the new chief minister. The seventh is to keep good relations with the Centre. He may have to go out of the way to do this.

Every non- BJP chief minister has these challenges. How the new chief minister overcomes them is to be seen.

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