JMM Faces Major Test In Jharkhand's Kolhan As The Battle Of Sorens Heats Up

Pappu Verma, a long-standing member of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), stepped down from all party positions on 1 October.

Having spent 26 years with the JMM, Verma expressed dissatisfaction with the party's leadership, claiming that it no longer listens to its core workers. He is expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Verma's resignation is part of a broader trend that began when former chief minister Champai Soren joined the BJP after being asked to step down from the chief minister's post by Hemant Soren.

Champai has a strong base in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand. Kolhan is a tribal-majority region located in southern Jharkhand, comprising three districts: East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela Kharsawan.

Hemant is aware of how Champai's exit could damage the JMM in Kolhan. Following Champai's departure, Hemant assembled key leaders from the region in Ranchi for an extensive damage-control meeting.

Since then, Kalpana Soren and Joba Majhi, the parliamentarian from Singbhum, have emerged as the party's key faces in the region. Both women have actively engaged with local communities, discussing welfare schemes and highlighting party initiatives, such as the Mayya Scheme, which aims to support the poor and tribal populations.

Kalpana has become a backbone of the party, known for her oratory skills, which are appreciated by many. She is able to draw large crowds, particularly women, to rallies. Kalpana is seen as a crucial figure in attracting women voters to the JMM for the 2024 general election.

Then there is the rivalry between Champai and Majhi. While in JMM, Champai did not want to weaken his grip on the Kolhan region, but JMM wanted him to nurture a possible successor in Majhi.

Champai did not like the idea, which is why Majhi did not get a position in his cabinet. Later, Hemant ignored Champai’s choice, Sukhram Oraon, and fielded Majhi has the JMM candidate from Singbhum.

This rivalry has added an extra layer of intrigue to the contest, with JMM hoping to leverage Majhi’s influence to neutralise Champai’s defection.

The party is also strategically highlighting local leaders and avoiding direct attacks on Champai, recognising the potential for sympathy votes among his supporters.

JMM’s efforts to stabilise its position in Kolhan come at a time when the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' is making significant inroads in the region.

Key BJP leaders, including Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi, and former Union minister Arjun Munda, have held rallies across Kolhan, urging voters to support the BJP in the upcoming election.

At a rally in Chaibasa, Marandi criticised the Hemant Soren-led government for allegedly looting the state's resources, citing scandals and unfulfilled promises regarding jobs and welfare schemes.

He also reminded women that the Hemant Soren government had failed to deliver on its promise of providing Rs 2,000 per month for cooking expenses. Marandi similarly reminded the elderly, disabled, and poor people about other unmet commitments.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP's co-in-charge for the Jharkhand election, promised to address concerns regarding Bangladeshi infiltrators in the region and said the BJP would create a national registry of citizens if it came to power.

He also vowed to provide at least 5 lakh homes to the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

BJP's yatra, branded as a campaign to save "roti, maati, and beti (bread, soil, and daughter)," includes Odisha Chief Minister Majhi. His presence aims to tap into the discontent among Odia speakers in Jharkhand, who are unhappy with the Hemant government.

Apart from the three districts of Kolhan, Odia speakers also have considerable influence in Simdega. Altogether, they can impact election outcomes in at least 14 out of Jharkhand's 81 assembly constituencies.

Majhi accused the Jharkhand government of discriminating against Odia speakers, urging them to support the BJP for better representation.

He delivered an emotional message, stating, “The people of Jharkhand and Odisha are like "do jism ek jaan (two bodies, one soul)." Although state reorganisation divided lakhs of Odias into two states, they share the same linguistic and cultural roots.”

The BJP’s message of forming a “double-engine government” — the same party in power in the state and at the Centre — has also been a key theme of its campaign in Kolhan.

In the last election, the JMM secured 13 out of 14 seats in the region, largely due to the BJP's decision to push a non-tribal leader, Raghubar Das, to the forefront.

If the 2024 Lok Sabha election is any indication, tribal discontent with the BJP may persist. The party expects Champai to do in three months what it has failed to do in the last 60 months.

The stakes in Kolhan are high for both parties. For BJP, a strong performance here would signal a significant shift in Jharkhand’s political landscape, while for the JMM, retaining Kolhan is vital for maintaining its hold on the state's tribal heartland.