BJP's Campaign Stumbles in Jharkhand's Tribal Belt

The BJP’s reliance on Hindutva and infiltration narratives failed to win over Jharkhand’s tribal electorate. Internal issues, lack of tribal leadership, and competition from Jairam Mahto’s new party further weakened their position, leading to a loss of key seats. The JMM coalition retained its lead, leveraging local trust and sympathy for Hemant Soren.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) aggressive campaign in Jharkhand, centered on Hindutva themes and alleged Bangladeshi infiltration, has yielded disappointing results, particularly in tribal regions. The party, which allied with AJSU, JDU, and LJP-R, secured only 21 of the 81 assembly seats, down from 25 in 2019. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition retained a significant lead, leaving BJP strategists to reflect on the causes of their underperformance.

Key factors cited by party insiders include poor ticket distribution, a disconnect with tribal voters, and a lack of strong tribal leadership. The BJP's reliance on the infiltration narrative failed to resonate, even in areas like Santhal Parganas, where demographic concerns were highlighted. Notably, the party was wiped out in 28 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes, with former Chief Minister Champai Soren emerging as the only tribal winner from the Saraikela constituency.

Adding to the BJP’s woes was the impact of Jairam Mahto’s newly formed Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha, which siphoned off votes from traditional BJP ally AJSU, particularly in the Kudmi-dominated Koylanchal region. Internal dissatisfaction among party workers over candidate selection and the absence of a prominent tribal face to counter JMM’s Hemant Soren further weakened the BJP's appeal.

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The campaign’s missteps, combined with the JMM's Maiya Samman scheme and sympathy for Soren following his ED investigation, solidified the opposition’s stronghold. As the BJP grapples with this setback, leaders admit the need to recalibrate their approach to regain tribal trust and strengthen their regional leadership.