Outsmarting BJP? How JMM Adopts BJP Tactics in Jharkhand Election Battle
Despite JMM’s bold stand against BJP heavyweights, INDIA Bloc’s dismissal of CPI(ML) adds to challenges in Jharkhand assembly polls
Ranchi/Kolkata: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the leading party in the INDIA bloc in Jharkhand, has adopted a tactic often seen in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s playbook during the assembly polls. In at least two ways, it mirrors the BJP’s approach—by accepting defectors from the BJP and framing the election as Hemant Soren versus everyone.
In recent years, the BJP has become known for welcoming leaders from other parties, even if they face serious corruption or criminal charges. Many cases have been dismissed by authorities once the leaders join the saffron camp. During the Jharkhand assembly polls, more than a dozen current and former BJP legislators joined JMM, and many have received tickets to contest.
As the BJP claimed during the Lok Sabha elections that Narendra Modi was single-handedly fighting against the opposition, JMM is now projecting Hemant Soren as the lone warrior taking on present and former BJP chief ministers. This group includes Jharkhand’s Assam in-charge, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Agriculture Minister and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, ex-CMs from Jharkhand Babulal Marandi, Champai Soren, Arjun Munda, and Madhu Koda. Additionally, Raghubar Das, currently the Governor of Odisha, can be counted in the fight against Soren, as his daughter-in-law is contesting under the BJP symbol. Senior party leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to lead the BJP’s campaign in Jharkhand against JMM’s executive president Hemant Soren.
However, unlike the BJP, JMM has not focused on uniting smaller parties and has instead repeated the mistake Congress made in the recent Haryana assembly polls. JMM has fielded its candidate from a seat where the CPI (ML) has a strong presence and had a solid chance against BJP state president Babulal Marandi.
Ranchi-based journalist Anand Dutta sees JMM’s approach as timely politics. “The JMM is responding to the opponent’s tactics with similar moves, which is necessary at this moment. It’s not just Hemant Soren but also Kalpana Soren leading the charge for JMM.”
“But for me, the main issue is that JMM and Congress did not learn from the Haryana poll results. They should have accommodated the CPI (ML). The BJP not only allotted an appropriate number of seats to AJSU but also to LJP, yet INDIA bloc leaders, for whom Vinod Singh has stood in times of crisis, have overlooked his party,” added Anand.
Only the election results will reveal whether JMM’s imitation of BJP’s stylebook pays off.
