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POLITICS

The JMM founder Shibu Soren promised. He also congratulated Soren time Soren organised his campaign pro-
emerged as an unchallenged leader of on his historic victory. fessionally as alow key affair but strong
tribal people after theiruprising against presence on social media. Besides the
exploitative “Mahajani Pratha” (Practice eacting to the JMM-Congress-RJD Sangharsh Yatra, his team organised
of money lending at exorbitant rates) and alliance’s victory in Jharkhand as- RatriChaupals (night halt meetings)
oppression. Later he became sole ben- R sembly polls, Congress President with the public across the state. A sepa-
eficiary of the battle for a separate state Sonia Gandhi said, “People have defeat- rate Yuva Samvad campaign was also
of Jharkhand. Allies Congress and RJD ed BJP’s attempts to divide the society on launched to reach out to the youth.
brought the disquiet obsessed minority caste and religious lines.” The Lok Sabha defeat forced Soren
vote as the BJP pitched up issues of CAA, “The victory is special and of extreme and his team to change their strategy
NRC, Article 370 and Ram Mandirin its contemporary importance. Thepeople of drastically. Soren’s speeches and inter-
aggressive poll campaign. Jharkhand deserve special gratitude and actions focused on solutions to specific
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweet- congratulations for summarily defeat- problems faced by people that developed
ed, “I thank the people of Jharkhand for ing the BJP and its divisive agenda,” she his image of a matured leader. Soren
having given BJP the opportunity to remarked. stressed on these points throughout his
serve the state for many years.” “I also The JMM leader Hemant Soren state-wide “Badlav Yatra” that took place
applaud the hardworking Party Karya- thanked the people of Jharkhand for from the end of August to October and
kartas for their efforts.We will continue the mandate. “Thank Lalu, Sonia, Rahul culminated in the rally in Ranchi on 19
serving the state and raising people- and Priyanka for fighting in alliance and October.
centric issues in the times to come,” Modi reposing trust in me,” Soren added. This Soren promised reservation for

The JMM-led alliance wins
47 seats in 81-member
Assembly. JMM won 30
seats, Congress 16 and
Rashtriya Janata Dal one
seat. The alliance defeated
BJP that could win 25 seats.
The victory has boosted
the morale of the
Opposition camp.

locals in jobs that had a direct connect
with the youth, especially as unemploy-
ment was the biggest issue in the polls, a
trend brought out by every pre-election
survey that took place in Jharkhand. His
campaign theme centralized on tag-
line “Jharkhand Maange Yuva Sarkar,
Jharkhandi Sarkar.” Sentimentally de-
signed campaign had touched the broad-
er sentiments of the youth of Jharkhand,
cutting across community lines paving
its way to success. Jharkhand has many
challenges being a backward state and
Soren will have to keepmany expecta-
tions as a chief minister.
LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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