BJP-JMM is silent on Christians, why those who make them king makers have no sentiment?
In December 2019, when Hemant Soren’s alliance won the mandate in Jharkhand, Soren first arrived at the Cardinal House on Purulia Road in Ranchi to seek the blessings of Archbishop Felix Toppo. This move by Soren was criticized by the BJP at the time. The party said that this government will function as per the instructions of the missionaries.
After five years, Jharkhand’s political mood seems to have changed. This time neither the BJP nor Hemant Soren’s party is talking about Christians. Interestingly, the Christian community, which has the third largest population in Jharkhand, is also silent throughout the elections.
In such a situation, the question arises: on which side does the Christian community play the role of kingmaker this time?
How many Christians are there in Jharkhand?
According to the 2011 census, the Christian population in Jharkhand is around 4.3 percent. This is the third largest population after Hindus and Muslims. This number is said to have increased over the last 13 years. Simdega, Gumla and Khunti districts in Jharkhand are dominated by Christians.
According to one report, around 51 percent of Simdega’s population are Christians. In Jharkhand, most Dalits and tribal communities have converted to Christianity.
How powerful are Christians in politics?
The Christian community dominates around 10 per cent of the seats in the Jharkhand Assembly. These mainly include 2 seats from Simdega, 2 from Khunti and 3 from Gumla. Curiously, all the seats where the Christian factor dominates are reserved for tribals.
In five seats of Simdega and Gumla, the Christian community plays an important role in victory and defeat. In the 2019 elections, Congress and JMM won these 5 seats.
Jharkhand, which has 81 assembly seats, needs 42 MPs to form the government. In such a situation, these 8 Christian dominated seats are very important.
Whose side are the Christians of Jharkhand on?
In 2014, when the BJP government was formed under the leadership of Raghubar Das, strict action was initiated against the missionaries. Raghubar Das’ government enacted strict laws on religious conversion. Many advertisements against the missionaries were also published.
During this period, the agencies also carried out raids and punitive actions against the Church and its affiliated organizations. For all these reasons, in 2019, Christians came together and moved towards the Indian Alliance.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP definitely won the votes of Christians, but the party lost badly in Christian-dominated areas. Not even party leader Lewis Marandi, who belonged to the Christian community, could save his seat.
Even in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had raised alarm against the Christian machinery and in these elections too the BJP was defeated in the Christian dominated areas.
It is said that this time also the political inclination of the majority of the Christian community is towards the Indian Alliance. Recently, Lewis Marandi also left BJP and joined JMM.
What are the problems of Christians this time?
Before the announcement of assembly elections in Jharkhand, Christian organizations had held meetings in different areas of Ranchi and Gumla. At this meeting he discussed his problems with the religious leaders. Security is said to be the biggest problem for Christians in these elections.
From 2014 to 2019, many religious leaders and Christian preachers were arrested. Not only this, the Missionaries of Charity were accused of child theft during this period. Women from the Christian community work in the Missionaries of Charity and dedicate their entire lives to the community.
Recently an organization called Open Door of World Watch has published a report. According to this report, India ranks 11th in the world in terms of attacks on Christians.
If we talk about states, Jharkhand is the third largest state, where Christians are the most attacked.
