Much before the counting day of Jharkhand polls on Monday, all throughout the 5 phases and even preceding that, there were much speculations as to what the outcome is going to be. Interest escalated particularly because everybody was eager to see how a state responds in the current milieu which has seen entry of the dual ‘determinants’ known as CAA and NRC. That a state election is fought primarily on issues specific to that state is the usual pattern of Indian electoral politics. But, there are times when there are breaks from it, especially if the issues, however national in character they may seem apparently, turn out to be overarching and decisive in determining mandate. Jharkhand results are out and the BJP has been outsmarted quite comfortably by the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance. Even if there might be efforts on the part of losers to build a narrative that it’s just a state election only, that too with a paltry 81 seats, it will be hard to disregard the fact that CAA-NRC factor duo had played a game-changing role in shaping the electoral fortunes. Given that, it would then not be a misleading interpretation if the Jharkhand results are accepted as a miniature representation of the present national mood that is being in the process of getting ‘reshaped’ after the advent of CAA-NRC.
BJP’s rejection by the tribal-dominated Jharkhand electorate has many reasons. Besides the usual anti-incumbency factor, there had been deep and prolonged rural distress, not to mention the stark disenchantment over rising unemployment. But still, there will presumably be an intense brain racking now in the saffron brigade in searching the ‘elements’ that led to upset of their applecart. Relying strictly on timeline of events, it can be said that, as only the last two phases of voting were held after CAA passage in parliament, influence on mandate-making, by all logical thinking, must have remained restricted to these seats alone. But, it is perhaps not actually so if a closer look is allowed to cast. Even before the passage of this bill which has generated an overwhelming level of national disapproval, the mood in Jharkhand was already in the making and except for the first phase on November 30 for 13 seats, people actually went to the polling booths with the CAA-NRC fear factor deeply entrenched in their minds in the rest phases, which numerically translates to 68 out of 81 seats. This is a fact that can hardly be set aside.
After Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, the failure list has lengthened further with Jharkhand. There will now be real jitters now in the saffron ranks since two tough challenges-Delhi and Bihar are waiting. These two will surely tell a lot about the extent the saffron colour fades or of any successful recovery. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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