Jharkhand Mukti Morcha along with Rashtriya Janata Dal sided with the Jharkhand Party for the Kolebira Assembly bypoll elections. Earlier, Congress had supported JMM during the bypoll elections that took place in Sili and Gomia this year.
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha continued its strong association with the Congress under the leadership of Ajoy Kumar, President, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee.
When BJP swept the Municipal Corporation elections in April this year, it was thought that in Jharkhand, the public sentiment is still in the favour of the Raghubar Das’ government but bypoll elections of Gomia, Silli and now Kolebira, prove otherwise.
Apparently, Kolebira is not a stronghold for the Congress party, as they had not won the elections here in the last 18 years. In the last election, Congress was placed 4th. Parties like RJD and JMM supported Jharkhand Party candidature on this basis. However, RPN Singh, in-charge Jharkhand Congress and Ajoy Kumar went ahead by fielding their own candidate as per the workers’ demand, which turned out to be fruitful.
The party decided to give the ticket to a grassroots worker Naman Bixel Kongadi who had public support, while the local media had cautioned that Congress is fighting a lost battle.
As the general elections 2019 are at a knocking distance the latest bypoll result increases the bargaining power of the Congress, as the second-largest party in the state Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supported-candidate registered a small voting tally to her name.
By-poll elections in Kolebira, Jharkhand was called for after the sitting MLA, Enos Ekka of the Jharkhand Party was convicted to life imprisonment in a case of kidnapping and murder. His wife, Menon Ekka contested the election on the ticket of Jharkhand Party.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha would be a part of the united opposition which will push to dethrone the central government; The party now might have a difficult time in stretching their prospect on contesting on a higher number of seats.
As Congress won the Kolebira seat without any assistance outside Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, it comes to show that the public sentiment is currently in their favour in the state. It also is a reflection of the Adivasis opinion against the BJP as more than the 2/3rd population of the region comprises of them.
Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren had earlier attended the swearing ceremony of the 3 states (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh) where the Congress party won the elections.
Hemant Soren holds the record of being the youngest Chief Minister in India.
Kolebira byelection result 2018: Congress’ Bikshal Kongari wins Kolebira bypolls
