Arjun Munda, Raghuvar Das, Babulao Marandi and Hemant Soren
In Jharkhand politics, Santhal Pargana has always played an important role in power. Even in the current government, the Chief Minister, Assembly Speaker and many ministers come from the Santhal Pargana division. Of the total 81 Assembly seats in Jharkhand, there are 18 assembly seats in Santhal Pargana. This 18-seat pargana is the pargana of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who heads the Jharkhand government.
The Barhet assembly seat for which CM Hemant Soren is contesting is also located in Santhal Pargana. This Pargana plays an important role in determining the power of Jharkhand. Therefore, the focus of all political parties remains on winning the Santhals. The Santhal seats have become a flashpoint for the ruling coalition as it is Shibu Soren’s home constituency. The BJP also follows the strategy of cornering the opponent in its own house and stronghold.
Santhal tribe has the largest share
The Santhal tribe, which is the largest section of the state’s population and also belongs to the tribal community, has the largest proportion of the population. A large section of the Santhal tribe resides in Santhal Pargana and the message of the political environment here also influences the Santhal voters living in the Dhanbad-Giridih area. Hemant Soren himself is from the Santhal tribe. In such a situation, the BJP is making one move after another to woo the Santhal tribals.
Infiltration, water and forests have always been emotional issues in Pargana. That is why the BJP is raising issues of land jihad, love jihad and job jihad along with the central government’s plans in this area. Even the Prime Minister has loudly raised the issue of infiltration and demographic change in his meetings. The BJP has advised all its star activists to focus on these issues.
BJP’s strategy to counter Shibu Soren’s own family
Not only this, the BJP’s strategy is to counter the JMM’s bid for tribal identity in Santhal through Mandal Murmu, a descendant of the family of Shibu Soren, Sita Soren and Sidho-Kanhu. The party is also linking Champai’s removal from the CM post with tribal identity among the public. The BJP is also openly raising the issue of demographic change and infiltration of Bangladeshi citizens in Santhal Pargana and has also given space to it in its manifesto.
BJP excited after first round of voting
In fact, the BJP is very excited after the first round of voting. BJP leaders have claimed that the public can connect with the issues raised by the BJP. Which means it is having a direct impact. Therefore, BJP depends on emotional issues in this area of Santhal Pargana. Meanwhile, the demand for the Sarna Dharma Code has been made for a long time and is considered an important step towards recognizing and preserving the identity and culture of the tribals. They are harmonizing on that. Sarna Dharma is the original religion of the Indian religious tradition. It is followed by many tribes from the Chhotanagpur plateau areas. Tribal groups have also organized protests in many states demanding the Sarna Code. Now Hemant Soren openly supports him.
Seven seats out of 18 reserved for Scheduled Tribes
There are a total of 18 seats in Santhal Pargana, of which seven seats are reserved for the scheduled tribe and one seat for SC. 10 seats are normal. Barhet, Dumka, Shikaripada, Maheshpur, Littipara, Borio and Jama assembly seats are reserved for STs. The Deoghar seat is reserved for the scheduled castes. The list of general seats includes Jamtara, Godda, Madhupur, Sarath, Jarmundi, Podaiyahat, Mahagama, Pakur, Rajmahal and Nala.
Attempt to break through through triple jihad
In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP’s performance in the general seats was decent. Now only the BJP is trying to make a dent in the seats held by the JMM. On one hand, the BJP is trying to make a dent in the JMM’s territory through the Triple Jihad, while on the other, Hemant Soren has also delivered a masterstroke by taking a positive stance on the Sarna religion. Although the BJP leaders had accepted the implementation of the Sarna Code by releasing the manifesto, but seeing that the line was different from that of its parent organization RSS, the BJP is now silent on this issue.
