The people of Jharkhand broke the record of 24 years and returned Hemant Soren to power. Many reasons are being given in the political circles for Hemant Soren’s return to power, but the issue that has dominated the most on the ground is Kudmi reservation. Especially in the areas of Chhota Nagpur and Kolhan.
It is being said that the echo of Kudmi reservation played such a role in Chhotanagpur and Kolhan areas that three parties of the state got settled.
What is the demand for Kudmi reservation?
Kudmi community has political dominance in Bihar, Bengal and Jharkhand. In Jharkhand alone the population of Kudmi caste is around 15 percent. In 1980, the people of Kudmi community demanded to include themselves in the Scheduled Tribe. The community argued that they should get this right on the basis of backwardness.
There were movements regarding this in many parts of Jharkhand and Bengal. At that time Vinod Bihari was leading Mahato Kurmi in Jharkhand. Gradually AJSU started raising the issues of Kudmi community. Sudesh Mahato became its leader.
When Arjun Munda was the Chief Minister, he also passed a proposal to include Kudmi caste in ST, but the Center rejected the demand at that time. In recent times, Jairam Mahato has given fresh impetus to this demand.
Jairam had been demanding from BJP for a long time to implement the Khatiani policy of 1932 and Kudmi reservation. Jayaram had also contested the elections on the basis of this issue. The name of his party is Jharkhand Loktantrik Kranti Morcha.
And three parties became clear…
Let’s talk about Ajsu first- AJSU, which contested 10 seats with the help of NDA alliance, has been able to win only one. AJSU supremo Sudesh Mahato himself has lost the election. JMM’s Amit Mahato has won from Silli seat from where Sudesh had lost the election.
Amit has won the Silli seat by 23867 votes. Whereas Jairam’s candidate has got more than 40 thousand votes here. Similarly, Lambodar Mahato, who was AJSU MLA from Gomiya seat, reached the third position. Here Jairam’s candidate Pooja Kumari was the runner up.
Jairam factor also worked on Ichagarh seat. Sudesh Mahato’s candidate has won only one seat in Mandu. Here his candidate Nirmal Mahato has won by 231 votes.
Mamta Devi of Congress won the Ramgarh seat. Here AJSU candidate Sunita Devi lost by about 6800 votes. Jairam’s candidate has got 70 thousand votes here.
BJP also became clear- The demand for Kudmi reservation has also affected the performance of BJP. BJP candidate Ravindra Pandey reached third position in Bermo seat. Here Jairam himself was contesting the elections and he got 60 thousand votes.
Similarly, BJP veteran Biranchi Narayan lost the election on Bokaro seat. Biranchi was defeated by Shweta Singh of Congress. This victory of Shweta also includes echoes of Kudmi reservation. Jairam’s candidate has got 39621 votes on Bokaro seat.
Same is the condition of Kanke seat. Here Congress has won the elections for the first time. BJP candidates have lost here by about 1000 votes. Jairam’s party candidate has got 25965 votes here.
Jairam’s candidate became the reason for BJP’s defeat in Giridih seat also. JMM has won here. BJP leader of opposition Amar Bauri was contesting from Chandankiyari seat. Bauri has been at third position on this seat. Jairam’s candidate stood second here.
NDA lost in Tundi and Tamar seats also because of Jairam factor.
Even JLKM itself could not win. Even though Jairam Mahato was vocal on the issue of Kudmi reservation, the performance of his party was also not the best. Jayaram himself had contested the elections from two seats, but could win only one. Jairam Mahato’s party had fielded a total of 71 candidates, but except one or two, the rest did not even finish second.
In this election held on 81 seats of Jharkhand, JMM has won 34, BJP 21, Congress 16, RJD 4, MLA 2 and parties like AJSU, LJP (R), JLKM have won 1 seat each.
