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Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Shibu Soren eyeing record 9th term from Dumka
If JMM chief Shibu Soren pulls off a win in Dumka Lok Sabha seat, it will be a record ninth term from the seat for the 75-year-old former Union minister. The undisputed Santhal leader has been winning from this parlimentary seat since 1980.
For JMM supremo and former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren, it is the 11th outing from Dumka Lok Sabha seat which is one of the three Lok Sabha constituencies voting on Sunday in the seventh and final phase of polling in Lok Sabha elections. If he pulls off a win, it will be a record ninth term from the seat for the 75-year-old former Union minister. The undisputed Santhal leader has been winning from Dumka since 1980.
However, the BJP leaders believe that poor health is limiting him. “He can’t even speak properly or walk for long,” underscored former Dumka Mayor and BJP leader, Amita Rakshit.
The JMM pooh-poohed it saying it is BJP’s game plan, seeing its likely defeat. He is hale and hearty and is enthusiastic when he is among people, said JMM leader Sunil Srivastav.
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The JMM patriarch is least concerned about what others say. “I am not bothered and will continue my fight for the people till my last breath,” Shibu Soren said.
The septuagenarian leader took aerial route to Giridih constituency by chopper on May 8 and campaigned for party nominee Jagannath Mahto at three places.
Earlier in April, he campaigned for his daughter Anjali Soren who contested from Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat (Odisha) and in Sundarpahari for Rajmahal candidate Vijay Hansdak on May 12.
During campaigning, he attended 43 election meetings and rallies besides village meetings and door to door campaigns.
However, insiders and his close associates admitted it would be difficult for Soren to contest next time. “Mentally he is fit and doing well but his body is not responding the way it used to do a decade back,” said his friend and election agent Bijay Kumar Singh.
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Notwithstanding the debate on whether it is Soren’s last election outing, the BJP fired all cylinders to capture the seat and is keen on gaining foothold in the region. Dumka was won by the BJP only twice -in 1998 and 1999 - by Babulal Marandi, who quit the BJP in 2006 and floated a regional party named JVM (P).
Chief minister Raghubar Das has been focusing on the region in the past three years. He addressed 3-4 rallies everyday to ensure BJP’s gain from Santhal.
The BJP leaders are hopeful that 2019 Lok Sabha elections will script the political obituary of Soren and his party in Santhal Pargana that has three Lok Sabha seats – Dumka, Godda and Rajmahal.
However, the JMM is also determined to win the seat for Soren and the party. The party is desperate, as a win or loss from Dumka will alter the poll equation in the assembly election that is due in December 2019.
The JMM is contesting from Dumka and Rajmahal, while Godda went to the JVM (P) in the grand alliance deal.
Dumka is thus headed for a showdown between the JMM and BJP and two Sorens – Shibu Soren and BJP’s Sunil Soren. While the JMM is confident and desperate to retain its supremacy, the BJP is keen to increase vote share before the state assembly election.
Sunil said he and his team had been working for the people of the constituency for long and was confident of his victory this time.
JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said its ‘dhanbal’ (money power) versus ‘janbal’ (people’s power) and added, “It is Baba nagri and difficult to defeat our Baba (Shibu) in the heartland,” he said.
The JMM is also worried about the farm labourers, a loyal vote bank, who have migrated to neighbouring West Bengal for paddy harvest.
BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda. Road, electricity, water and Dumka medical college found mentions in all party rallies and election campaigns besides “diplomatic victory” over Pakistan.
On the other hand, JMM spoke about the failure of BJP governments in the state and the Centre, tampering with land laws and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act which the party feels will make life hell for the farmers, tribals in particular, besides social disharmony in the BJP rule.
