Report by Vipul Sharma
The dates for the upcoming Jharkhand Legislative Assembly elections are already announced by the Election Commission of India. As per Election Commission’s announcement, the voting for the 81 constituencies in Jharkhand Assembly will be held in five phases from 30 November and counting of votes will be held on 23 December. The five-phase voting will take place on 30 November, 07 December, 12 December, 16 December, and 20 December. The tenure of the current 81members Assembly will end on 05 January, 2020. Out of the 81 seats, 09 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and 28 for Scheduled Tribes (ST).
In the previous 2014 assembly elections, BJP along with its ally AJSU won 42 seats and formed the government in the state. In the 81-member house the party formed government along with AJSU which had won 5 seats. JMM was the largest opposition party in the state with 19 seats, JVM(P) won 8 and Congress managed to get only 6 seats.
As per the Election Commission data, BJP had a vote share of 31.26 per cent and Congress had 10.46 vote share in 2014 Assembly elections. The voter turnout went up around 10 percentage points and stood at 66.42 per cent in 2014 Assembly elections in Jharkhand.
.Party Seats Vote Percentage
.Bharatiya Janata Party 37 31.26%
.JMM 19 20.4%
.All Jharkhand
Students Union 5 3.68%
.JVM(P) 8 9.99%
.Congress 6 10%
During the previous Congress-JMM alliance government, the state had witnessed rampant corruption and exploitation of state resources. The alliance especially Congress continued to exploit Jharkhand in every way. The present opposition got opportunities for many years, but it could not give even a stable government in the state. During the last election the people of the state asked the opposition parties that why under the regime of Congress- JMM and other opposition parties they were not able to provide electricity, gas, health facilities or free treatment, house, toilet for poor etc. in last 70 years. Congress had cheated the tribals and denied them even the basic facilities and rights for the livelihood. Therefore, they defeated the opposition parties miserably in last elections.
However, in the last 5 years the BJP led state government successfully implemented various central and state schemes. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana it is expected that 10 lakh farmers in Jharkhand are benefited. Whereas under the PM Awas Yojana 5.29 lakh houses were sanctioned in 2016-17 and the state government has completed 90 per cent of the housing units, and handed them over to the beneficiaries.
The State government has also implemented Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme effectively which was launched from Ranchi by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. A total of 57 lakh families out of 68 lakh families in the state have been connected with the Centre’s flagship project and the beneficiaries are getting “Golden Cards” which enables them to avail free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the health insurance scheme at designated hospitals.
Taking decisions for the welfare of the tribals in the country the Modi government in its landmark decision withdrew a controversial proposal to amend the Indian Forest Act IFA (1927), which came under severe criticism for being ‘draconian’ to people especially tribals living in the forests. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also mentioned that Jharkhand has become the launch pad of big welfare schemes for poor and tribal communities.
The BJP-led regimes at the Centre and in the state which are popularly known as the double-engine government are very successful in implementing the welfare schemes and other development works.
The recent visits of the Union Home Minister and BJP National President Shri Amit Shah and party Working President Shri JP Nadda also added strength to BJP campaign. Shri Amit Shah by setting the tone of Jharkhand Assembly elections said, ‘JMM leader Hemant Soren should be asked which party he has aligned with, a party which hoodwinked tribals for 70 years’. He said the Congress and JMM alliance is for corruption, cheating the Adivasis and the poor but not for the development of the state.
BJP Working President Shri JP Nadda had visited Jharkhand and while addressing huge public meetings said, “The state government and the organisation of the BJP are moving forward rapidly and the people will bless us with 65-plus seats this time”.
Notable, CM Shri Raghubar Das is the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand after its formation to complete a full five year term in office and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is confident to make history by returning to power in the state for a consecutive second term on the basis of its performance and on the popular appeal of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The central and state governments are committed for the development of the tribals and other section of the society in the state. The efforts made by the government in liberating Jharkhand from Naxalism and putting onto the path of development is welcomed by each section of the society.
Jharkhand election is also a high stake election for the opposition parties which are trying to wrest power in the state by coming together. The opposition parties have a considerable amount of ground to cover, as just five months ago the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had won 12 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats.
It seems, the electorate of the state is wholeheartedly supporting the BJP government this time to expedite the ongoing development works and for the welfare of the poor in the state. The common people also know that BJP is the only party which is committed to make Jharkhand one of the fastest emerging states in the country. Therefore, it is expected as told by the BJP National Working President that “BJP is heading for a thumping victory in the upcoming Assembly Election in Jharkhand”.
Major Schemes of BJP Govt.
Mukhyamantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana:
Under this scheme over 35 lakh all the small and marginal farmers would be offered an incentive of Rs. 5,000 per acre.
Free LPG Cylinders Refill to PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) Beneficiaries:
People would be able to get free refill of their gas cylinders received under the flagship PMUY Scheme along with 12 lakh new LPG connections.
Sahiya Arogya Kunji Yojana:
Under this scheme aarogya kunji (medical kit) would be made available in all the villages to ensure proper health care services to all its citizens.
Mukhyamantri Sukanya Yojana 2019:
Under Mukhya Mantri Sukanya Yojana, all the girls from their birth till the age of 18 years will get protsahan rashi of Rs. 30,000.
Jharkhand Old Age / Widow / Viklang Pension: Jharkhand government raised the assistance Rs. 600 to Rs. 1000 per month.