BJP faces major setback in West Singhbhum assembly elections

Mail News Service

Chaibasa: The 2024 assembly elections in West Singhbhum district have proven to be a major setback for the BJP, with the party failing to make a significant impact in any of the five constituencies. Despite two months of hard campaigning, BJP candidates were unable to secure even 50,000 votes in any constituency, resulting in a disappointing performance. Across the five assembly seats, BJP and AJSU candidates collectively garnered only 2,17,181 votes out of the total 7,25,350 votes cast, while candidates from the INDIA alliance amassed a far higher 3,90,268 votes, further emphasizing the scale of the defeat.

In the Chaibasa assembly, which had 2,34,269 registered voters, only 1,63,047 people cast their votes. JMM candidate Deepak Birua emerged victorious with 1,07,430 votes, while BJP’s Geeta Balmuchu received just 42,559 votes. Similarly, in Majhgaon, with 2,17,000 voters, only 1,50,694 participated, and JMM’s Niral Purti secured 94,163 votes, leaving BJP’s Badkunwar Gagarai with only 34,560 votes. In Chakradharpur, with 2,08,918 voters, 1,40,846 voted, and while JMM’s Sukhram Oraon obtained 58,639 votes, BJP’s Shashi Bhushan Samadd could only muster 49,329 votes.

In Manoharpur, with 2,21,602 voters, 1,36,390 cast their votes, and JMM’s Jagat Manjhi received 73,034 votes, while AJSU’s Dinesh Chandra Boypai garnered 41,078 votes. In Jagannathpur, out of 1,98,673 voters, 1,34,373 exercised their franchise. Congress candidate Sonaram Sinku won with 57,065 votes, while BJP’s Geeta Koda got 49,682 votes. This widespread loss across all constituencies reflects a serious concern for the BJP, highlighting the need for a deep introspection and strategic overhaul in the district. The results underline the growing challenge for the BJP in West Singhbhum, where local support appeared to be severely lacking, and the party will have to reassess its approach to regain the confidence of voters in future elections.