Jairam ‘Tiger’ Mahto contesting from two Assembly seats, to face first big test

Shankar Agrawal

Ranchi, Nov 16: The Jharkhand Loktantrik Kranti Morcha (JLKM), led by the young and charismatic Jairam ‘Tiger’ Mahto, has entered the Jharkhand Assembly poll fray, seeking to establish himself as a significant political force. Known for his jeans-and-T-shirt attire and fiery speeches from car bonnets, Mahto has earned a loyal following, with supporters hailing him as ‘Tiger.’

Jairam Mahto has gained recognition for championing local issues, particularly the demand for implementing the 1932 Khatian land settlement policy. This policy ties Jharkhand’s domicile and employment verification to 1932 land records, emphasizing Jharkhandi identity.

In 2022, Mahto led a notable movement opposing the inclusion of non-native languages such as Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Angika in state-level exams across 11 districts, advocating, instead, for prioritizing local languages and ensuring job opportunities for Jharkhand residents.

Now registered as a political party, JLKM emerged from Mahto’s earlier organization, Jharkhandi Bhasha Khatiyan Sangharsh Samiti (JBKSS). JLKM has fielded candidates in 71 constituencies, with Mahto himself contesting from Dumri and Bermo. Dumri faces a three-way contest involving Baby Devi (JMM) and Yashoda Devi (AJSU), while in Bermo, Mahto challenges BJP’s Ravindra Pandey and Congress’s Kumar Jai Mangal.

Mahto, a member of the influential Kurmi (Mahato) community, represents a key demography constituting 22% of Jharkhand’s population and plays a crucial role in 35 of the state’s 81 assembly seats. During public meetings, he passionately appeals for voter support, positioning himself as a leader dedicated to the youth, laborers, and the underprivileged.

“Support me to secure the future of Jharkhand,” he urged in Dumri, adding, “My victory will not be mine alone but of every common person.”

In the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, Mahto secured over 8.2 lakh votes, including 3.5 lakh votes as an independent candidate in Giridih. Dumri, a seat under the Giridih constituency, saw Mahto secure 97,000 votes.

JLKM’s campaign faces challenges as two candidates, Akil Akhtar (Gandey) and Sonu Yadav (Garhwa), joined the ruling JMM, which experts view as a strategic move to weaken Mahto’s influence among Kurmi voters.

JLKM spokesperson Sushil Mandal stated, “Jairam is the only hope for Jharkhand’s bright future. Our fight is for identity and development.”