The recently concluded five-phased Jharkhand by-elections saw an overall turnout of 58 per cent, with electorates braving the Maoists and Naxalites and coming out to vote in hope of a better future.

Jillian D'silva
December 24 2009

The recently concluded four-week long five-phased Jharkhand by-elections, held in the shadow of Maoist violence, saw a relatively large turnout of 58 per cent, with electorates braving Maoist attacks and coming out to vote in the hope of a better future. However, the final verdict was drastically fractured, as not a single political party managed to bag a majority in the state.

The reason for this divergent choice of government could be the changing mindset of the electorate, wherein the confidence of the voters is shifting away from the dominating political parties. This trend was seen in the 2009 General Elections as well.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which previously had a stronghold in the state, have somewhat relinquished their hold, with the Congress gaining 23 seats, same as the 'others'.

Soon after the results were announced, the Congress and the BJP were seen vying for the support of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which has been under the president's rule for almost a year now and has emerged as the pivot for government formation in the 81-strong House.

Subodh Kant Sahay, Union Food Processing Minister and Congress leader, said, "It is high time that secular forces united."

Admitting that the NDA would not be able to form the government on its own, BJP president Raghubar Das said, "No one is an untouchable for us. We are ready for an alliance government with the support of other parties."

As speculation mounted over who would be the next Jharkhand Chief Minister, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Chief Shibu Soren clarified that he wished to be the king, not a kingmaker and that no party was an "untouchable". Keeping all his options open, Soren, who with 18 seats in the 81-member assembly is the key to forming the next government, said triumphantly that "everything depended on him".

Speaking to repoters in Bokaro, a day after the Assembly elections threw up a badly fractured verdict, Soren said, "I do not want to be kingmaker, I want to be king. It's not important now what Arjun Munda (BJP) and Babulal Marandi (JVM-P) are stating. Now everything depends on me."

Soren further stated, "No compromise will be made on CM post. The JMM is the single largest party and I should be given the chance to form the government."

The four-way split -- with 'others' including Rashtriya Janata Dal, All Jharkhand Students Union and Madhu Koda followers accounting for another bloc of 18 seats -- immediately set the stage for furious jockeying for power, stimulating fears of uncertainty and skullduggery.

The current political scenario has compelled the common man to somewhat lose faith in the whole system. The people of Jharkhand are resting all their hopes of a better future in the hands of the next government that will be formed. Only time will tell whether the new government will succeed in fulfilling their aspirations or will push them to lose faith in them entirely.