Jamshedpur : The clean sweep of BJP candidate Vidyut Baran Mahto from Jamshedpur constituency has not only consolidated the position of the former Chief Minister Arjun Munda in the party but has even bolstered the confidence of the rank and file.
The Kurmi card played by the suave former CM Arjun Munda with selection of Mahto(who switched over from JMM just before elections) in the last minute for the Jamshedpur constituency paid off well. Also, Munda�s strategy of advising Vidyut to focus primarily on rural parts in the six assembly segments of the Jamshedpur constituency seemed to have paid well for the BJP.
Although, there are several dimensions to the winning margin of the popular leader in the general seat but with the party securing lead in five of the six Assembly segments of the constituency the morale of the party cadre is on all time high.Barring Potka, Mahto took major lead in all the five Assembly areas.
In Bahragora, Mahto received 61143 votes while Dr Ajoy Kumar received 50014, in Ghatshila too Mahto received unprecedented lead with 63970 votes in his kitty and Dr Ajoy received only 35747 votes. In Potka however, the JVM candidate received 65897 while Mahto got 65563.
There�s no denying the fact that urban pockets of the constituency have always been BJP�s stronghold but in the election for the 16th Lok Sabha the party has managed to secure votes in the pockets that were tribal dominated and essentially attached to community specific leaders and political parties.
Like in Jamshedpur West Assembly area, known for strong hold of JMM and Congress supporters, Mahto bagged 89021 votes while Dr Ajoy tallied 74850 votes. The number of votes the party has bagged in the Jugsalai (reserve
seat) and Ghatsila Assembly segments, too always been the stronghold of JMM and Congress respectively, has worked wonders for the saffron brigade.
In Jugsalai Mahto received 93309 while Dr Ajoy confided to 73411 votes. In BJP�s strong hold Mahto won 91138 votes while the sitting MP got 64351 votes. �We are happy with the result. In Ghatshila we posted a lead in double digits which is naturally a big boost coming our way ahead of the possible Assembly elections in the state,� said, Rajkumar Srivastava, district president, BJP.
�Yes, indeed the presence of Arjun Munda has worked in our way and going by the lead margin in the five Assembly constituencies I am very positive of posting win in the said seats if elections are held in coming few months,� Srivastava said. Ghathsila is the only other Assembly constituency in the district tha has for long voted for the Congress.
However, Mahto managed to strike a dominant position here too. �Going by the performance of our party we are confident in the next Assembly elections in the State too we will register overwhelming victory,� said Anil Modi, distric spokesperson of BJP. Meanwhile, victory of BJP candidate Laxman Gilua in Chaibasa and BJP veteran Karia Munda in Khunti should further consolidate Munda�s position in Singhbhum.
Munda preferred Gilua to Barkuanr Gagarai, whoincidentally also happened to be very close to the former Chief Minister.Again, a comfortable lead in Kharsawan assembly constituency, part of Khunti Lok Sabha seat, saw Karia Munda registering his victory against tainted Anosh Ekka. Kharsawan happens to be the home constituency of Arjun Munda.
