Jharkhand Elections: Son fails to carry on father’s legacy in politics 

Chaibasa seat: Five term record of MP Bagun Sumbrui ends

Jamshedpur, Oct 27: The political legacy of Bagun Sumbrui, a towering figure in Jharkhand politics, has come to an end as his son, Vimal Sumbrui, failed to retain the Chaibasa (Sadar) Assembly seat in West Singhbhum. Bagun Sumbrui, who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) five times and a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) four times, was a key figure in strengthening Congress in the Kolhan region. Despite his long-standing influence, Vimal Sumbrui was unable to carry forward his father’s political success.

Bagun Sumbrui’s career spanned from 1952 to 1977, during which he represented the Chaibasa Assembly seat and Singhbhum (ST) parliamentary seat, both reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Bagun contested elections on tickets from various parties, including Congress and the Jharkhand Party, consistently winning and serving as a prominent tribal leader. He was instrumental in bringing Congress its first victory in the Chaibasa Assembly seat, solidifying his stature in regional politics.

Bagun’s wife, Muktidani Sumbrui, also played a significant role in the family’s political journey. She became the first tribal woman to win an MLA seat from Chaibasa, securing victories in 1977 and 1980. This made her a trailblazer for tribal women in politics. However, after the deaths of both Bagun and Muktidani, their son Vimal was unable to maintain the family’s political legacy.

Vimal Sumbrui contested the Chaibasa Assembly seat twice, first in 2005 and then in 2019, but was defeated on both occasions. In 2005, he was beaten by BJP’s Putkar Hembram, and in 2009, JMM’s Deepak Birua broke the Sumbrui family’s stronghold in Chaibasa. Despite Vimal’s efforts, the family’s influence faded after Bagun’s death, marking the end of their era in Kolhan politics.

As Jharkhand prepares for the 2024 Assembly elections, the political landscape continues to evolve. Voting will be held in two phases, with 43 seats, including those in 15 districts, going to the polls in the first phase on November 13. Voters in the Jagannathpur Assembly seat in West Singhbhum, which has the smallest electorate with 198,579 voters, will also cast their ballots during this phase.

The results of the 2019 Assembly elections saw the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) win 30 seats, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) securing only 25. Congress, in alliance with JMM and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), claimed 16 seats, while smaller parties and independents won the remaining seats. The 2024 election results, set to be announced on November 23, are expected to reshape Jharkhand’s political dynamics.