Polling over in 50 of 81 Jharkhand seats; BJP and JMM claim majority, JVM eyes second spot,Third phase polling %, Jharkhand third phase polling %, Jharkhand polling %, third phase of Jharkhand polls

Polling over in 50 of 81 Jharkhand seats; BJP and JMM claim majority, JVM eyes second spot

Ranchi: Jharkhand has sealed the fate of candidates in 50 out of the 81 Assembly seats after the third phase of voting ended on Tuesday. The elections are a small litmus test for the BJP that largely relied on PM Narendra Modi's popularity and National President Amit Shah's strategy. On the other hand the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, battling for survival, banked on its pro-tribal image.

Only one out of the 28 constituencies reserved for the Scheduled Tribes fall in the third and fourth phases. Most of the seats are dominated by 'outsiders', referred to as Dikus in tribal tongue, who came to Jharkhand for their livelihood but later settled down permanently. Issues retalied to the tribals have taken a back seat in these two rounds.Also Read: Jharkhand Third phase polling % updates

From most of these areas, it's easier to reach Patna than Ranchi. A majority of them have always been influenced by Bihar politics, the primary reasons being proximity and demography. Perhaps this is why, during the campaigning for third and fourth phases, there has been an increasing footfall of 'outsider' netas at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport.

• Of the 17 seats that went to polls on Tuesday, Koderma, Simaria and Barhi were close to Bihar. Hatia, Bermo, Gomia, Mandu, Barkagaon have a majority of people who have their origins in Bihar.
• In fourth phase also, several seats including Madhupur, Deoghar, Bagodar, Giridih, Dumri, Bokaro, Sindri, Dhanbad and Baghmara have a remarkable population of 'outsiders'.

Talking to News18, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha spokesperson Sunil Sahu claimed that the Bihari-dominated regions will not vote against the regional parties. He said his party would get at least 15-16 of the 50 seats and emerge as the second winner overall.

• "BJP, no doubt, will be the number one but no party will get a clear majority. If we look at the third and fourth phase results of 2009, JVM emerged as a strong player," he said. "In tribal areas, BJP has performed badly. The only phase that gave the party a lead is the second one. Third and fourth phases will not help the saffron party much," he added.

The third and fourth phases have kept Bihar leaders on their toes. Union ministers hailing from Bihar - Ram Vilas Paswan, Giriraj Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav and Upendra Kushwaha - all visited the state seeking votes as a majority of the voters are originally from Bihar. Former Bihar chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad too left no stone unturned to unite secular votes for the UPA.

When asked whether the two phases offer huge stake for the party, BJP state spokesperson Prem Mittal said, "BJP has a strong base in these constituencies and BJP is set for victory in most of the seats." Unable to provide expected figures, Mittal claimed the BJP-AJSU alliance will win with a 2/3rd majority.

"Don't expect that the BJP will win more than 33-34 seats. JVM and JMM will certainly not go with the saffron party after poll results are out. Since only 3-4 independents are expected to win including Geeta Koda, Enos Ekka and Bandhu Tirkey, it's highly unlikely that the BJP will form government," Sushanto Bhattacharya, a senior Central Committee Member of the Maoist Coordination Committee said. "The BJP has suffered losses due to the failure of RJD-Congress-JD(U) grand alliance. They have eaten into BJP votes" he added.

"My party has fielded 18 candidates and we will surely win 4-5 seats including Sindri, Chandankyari and Sikaripada. In all likelihood we will support a JMM-led government," he said. Political analysts say the JMM will emerge as the second strongest player in Phase 3 with the BJP winning a majority of seats.

If this happens, it will be crucial to the strategy of JMM in the coming 5 years. In political circles, it's prety well known that the JMM is focusing on strengthening cadre in these Bihari-dominated areas.

JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya, however, refuted these claims and said no party contests elections to come second. "We all are in the race to win and the JMM is confident of victory in at least 10 of the 17 seats in the third phase. Our position in first phase was strong. Getting all 18 Santhal seats in the last phase to secure majority," he said.

src:ibnlive

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