In Jharkhand coal belt, These are some of the key faces from different parties, including those from the incumbent JMM-led INDIA alliance and the Opposition BJP-led NDA, who seem to be caught in keen contests in various constituencies in the crucial North Chotanagpur region in the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, with both the camps going all out to get an edge. The region comprising seven districts – Bokaro, Chatra, Dhanbad, Giridih, Hazaribagh, Koderma and Ramgarh – has 25 seats.
The region is also known as the state’s coal belt, where clean water and employment are still a dream for many. Political Pulse | With little room for error, Jharkhand poll outcome may come down to 9 low-margin seats The Giridih district, which has six Assembly constituencies, is one of the main hubs of migration from the state. It will see some keen electoral battles. State BJP president Babulal Marandi, Jharkhand’s first CM, is contesting from a general seat Dhanwar.
He is facing two Dumri seats, currently held by the Congress and the JMM respectively, where an emerging Kudmi leader Jairam Mahato is in contention. Mahato, dubbed “Tiger”, is the founder of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha. He is reported to be drawing huge crowds in his rallies, especially the youths. “Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha has fielded candidates in several seats.
If it wins in some seats, Mahato may become a kingmaker in the event of a hung Assembly,” a political observer said. Both these sister-in-laws are connected to the “Singh Mansion”, which belonged to late Suryadev Singh, Sanjeev’s father and ex-MLA, who was once the power centre in the coal town whose early life was said to have inspired the Bollywood movie “Gangs of Wasseypur”. In Chatra(SC) assembly seat, the incumbent MLA from the RJD and labour minister, Satyanand Bhogta, is not contesting the election this time.
In March 2022, Parliament had approved the shift of the Bhogta community from the Scheduled Castes (SCs) list to that of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Jharkhand. This has led to the RJD fielding his daughter-in-law Rashmi Prakash from the seat now. In several parts of Bokaro and Dhanbad districts, including Jharia and other constituencies where the coal mining is done, local residents often complain of lack of employment opportunities leading to illegal mining, which in turn leads to several deaths every year.
The shortage of drinking water due to water levels drying in the coal bed areas in various parts of Dhanbad district is also an issue in the region. In the 2019 Assembly, while the then incumbent BJP, contesting solo, had won 11 seats in the North Chotanagpur region, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance had won 10 seats, with the remaining picked up by smaller parties and an Independent.
In the state then, the JMMled alliance had won 47 seats in the 81-member House as against the BJP’s 25 seats.